Florida Dept. of Health issues swimming advisory for Cocoa Beach Pier due to fecal bacteria

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A swim advisory has been issued for a popular Brevard County beach.

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According to an alert from the Florida Department of Health for Brevard County, people should avoid swimming near the Cocoa Beach Pier due to the potential health risks from the presence of bacteria in the water.

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The Brevard County Health Department performs regular monitoring of the water quality at the Pier once every two weeks as part of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.

A saltwater sample taken on April 17 was tested for enteric bacteria and found to contain 137 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per 100 milliliters of water. Anything above 70 is rated as “poor” quality.

Another sample taken on the April 19 also contained more than 71 CFU. A “good” water quality rating would fall between 0 and 35 CFU per 100 milliliters of water.

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The water quality classifications are based on standards recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the health department, enteric bacteria comes from the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, and could lead to “increased risk of human disease, infections, or rashes.”

Its presence in the water may be the result of fecal pollution from storm water runoff, human sewage, or other pets and wildlife.

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For more information on the latest testing on all of Florida’s saltwater beaches, click here.

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