High levels of poop lead to swimming advisory at three South Florida beaches

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is warning people to think twice before swimming at three South Florida Beaches — Golden Beach, Crandon Beach North and Crandon Beach South.

That’s because water samples show that there’s too much fecal matter.

“The advisory issued recommends not swimming at these locations at this time,” the health department wrote in the advisory.

This is the second time this month swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at Crandon Beach North.

According to the department, recent samples of beach water at those three sites “did not meet the recreational water quality standard for enterococci.”

”The results of the sampling indicate that water contact may pose an increased risk of illness, particularly for susceptible individuals,” the department said.

The Department regularly tests water samples at 16 sites, as part of its Florida Healthy Beaches Program. Water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria enterococci, which “normally inhabit the intestinal track of humans and animals, and which may cause human disease, infections, or illness,” according to the health department.

Storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage are common causes for high levels of enterococci.

Earlier this month, two popular beaches — Virginia Key Beach Southside (Dog Beach) and Crandon North Beach — had high levels of fecal matter leading to an advisory.

For more information visit the Florida Healthy Beaches Program http://www.flhealth.gov and Select “Beach Water Quality” from the Environmental Health Topics List.

This story was originally published July 18, 2018 at 7:15 PM.