Health alert: Avoid activities on Fort Lauderdale waterway with sewage issue, city says
Change your plans if you like to fish, boat or swim in the Himmarshee Canal in Fort Lauderdale.
Here’s what to know:
Why is there an advisory at the Himmarshee Canal?
Water problem: The city warns that a “sewage overflow” has set off an advisory on recreational activities in the area.
Off limits: “Swimming, fishing, jet-skiing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, or engaging in any other water-related activities should be avoided within the advisory area,” according to the Fort Lauderdale “precautionary waterway advisory.”
Boundaries of the Fort Lauderdale advisory
The areas of the Himmarshee Canal affected:
▪ Southeast Second Street on the north
▪ The New River on the south
▪ U.S. 1/Federal Highway on the west
▪ Southeast 13th Avenue on the east
How long will the Fort Lauderdale advisory be in effect?
Testing: No timetable has been announced. The city says it will test the water daily and the advisory “will be lifted once satisfactory test results are obtained.”
Health risks of being in or on the water
Medical conditions: The presence of sewage in the water could mean the presence of enterococci bacteria. That can make you sick if you come in contact with the water. People with an increased risk of illness like those who have a weakened immune system are especially vulnerable. Same goes if you have open or healing wounds, a history of urinary tract infections or recently had a root canal, cancer treatment or dialysis.
This story was originally published May 18, 2023 at 7:37 AM.
