A no swim advisory is in effect for several South Florida in Miami-Dade County beaches.
The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County has urged everyone to stay out of the water after test results found high levels of the bacteria enterococci in the water at several beaches.
Health officials said the presence of enterococci is an indicator of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water run-off, wildlife, pets and human sewage.
Officials advise swimmers to stay on the sand at:
- Surfside at 93rd Street
- Crandon North Beach
- Virginia Key Beach
- Key Biscayne Beach Club
- Cape Florida Lighthouse
However, a group of tourists went into the water at Virginia Key Beach Park before they were told to get out.
“One of the lifeguards came to us to say to don’t swim because the water is contaminated,” Fabio Marini said.
It is advised that there be no swimming, fishing or any type of water activity until health officials have given the all clear.
7News cameras showed a no swimming flag flying at a lifeguard station.
For some, like Miami KiteBoarding founder Christophe Ribot, the advisories are not good for business.
“Mostly, the beach is pretty empty as you can see,” Ribot said. “We’ve been here for 10 years, and we have already seen a difference in the last two years.”
However, the beach near the Cape Florida Lighthouse remains open to swimmers.
“It is an advisory, not a beach closure,” Lu Dodson, the assistant manager for Bill Baggs State Park, said. “Individuals with compromised immune systems or open cuts and sores, or any other concerns that they may have about swimming in the water, [are advised] that they not go swimming.”
New test results are expected on Monday.
Dodson added that this round of warnings is likely the result of high winds out of the east and extremely high tides stirring up the bottom of the bay, which brought the bacteria closer to shore.
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