At least five states had beaches closed or under advisories because of fecal bacteria ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, according to an EPA mapping website.
Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York State currently had beaches completely closed or under advisories due to fecal bacteria levels not meeting health standards when last tested.
Florida advisories included Higgs, Smathers, Bahia Honda Oceanside, Sombrero, Founder and South Beach in Monroe County as well as Simmons Park Beach and Bahia Beach, in Hillsborough County, according to the Florida Healthy Beaches Program.
In Michigan, beaches affected included Singing Bridge Beach, in Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron, St. Clair Shores Memorial Park Beach in Lake St. Clair, Aloha Day Use Area and Aloha State Park in Mullet Lake, Ferndale in Sylvan Lake, Lighthouse Beach at Silver Lake State Park, on Lake Michigan, and Crossroads for Youth on Handsome Lake, according to Michigan’s BeachGuard system.
The reason for most of these advisories and was cited as “high bacteria levels,” which can sometimes include fecal pollution.
There were not many closures in New York, but several beaches faced advisories for bacteria levels, according to the NYC Beach Water Quality database.
These beaches include Douglaston Manor, Gerristen/Kiddie Beach, Schuyler Hill Civic Association and the Whitestone Booster Civic Association.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has three different categories for water quality.
Water is recorded as “poor” when 71 or greater enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water are found. Water that is categorized as “poor” is considered “a potential health risk to the bathing public.”
The other two categories that can apply to water are “moderate,” which is used when 36-70 enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water is found, and “good,” for 0-35 enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water.
The Florida Health Beaches Program explains: “Enterococci are enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals.
“The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.
“If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.”
The closings and advisories came as Americans geared up for the Fourth of July holiday, with most parts of the country set to see normal weather conditions for this time of year— though some showers and thunderstorms are expected in parts of the Northeast and the South.
Folks may not be tempted to swim northern Florida, where scattered thunderstorms are forecast, but people in Illinois and Michigan were set to see sunny skies.
While New Jersey has a 20 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service, swimming may definitely be an option for people in temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees.
Meanwhile, New York is expected to reach a high of around 81 to 83 degrees, remaining sunny throughout most of the day.
Uncommon Knowledge
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The post Beach Map Shows States With Fourth of July Fecal Bacteria Warnings appeared first on Newsweek.
