Heading to the beach? A no-swim advisory has been issued for a Miami Beach spot
It might be beach weather — but health officials are still warning people to stay out of the water at one Miami Beach spot.
A no-swim advisory was issued Wednesday for North Shore Ocean Terrace in Miami Beach (73rd Street) because two consecutive water samples showed high levels of bacteria, according to the Florida Health Department in Miami.
“The result of the sampling indicates that water contact may pose an increased risk of illness, particularly for susceptible individuals,” the health department said.
The samples showed that the level of enterococci — a bacteria usually found in the intestinal track of humans and animals — exceeded the federal standard. Swimming in water with the bacteria can cause human disease, infections or illness, according to the health department.
While high levels of enterococci can be caused by storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage, it is not clear what caused the levels to rise at North Shore Ocean Terrace.
The same spot — along with several others — was closed in September for the same reason.
Random water sampling is done weekly at 16 spots in Miami-Dade as part of the Florida Healthy Beaches Program.
This story was originally published December 8, 2021 at 8:31 PM.
