Press Release
Date: 11/09/2021
Palm Beach County Saltwater Beach Monitoring Results
The Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County has been conducting saltwater beach water quality sampling since August 5, 2002 as part of the Florida Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. We are presently sampling thirteen (13) beaches on a weekly basis. The water samples are being examined for enterococci bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, and which may cause human disease, infections or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. The purpose
of the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program is to determine Florida’s beach water quality.
Date of Sample: 11/08/2021
|
Site
|
Name
|
City
|
Enterococci
|
Water Quality
|
Status
|
|
1
|
Dubois Park
|
Jupiter
|
41
|
Moderate
|
Satisfactory
|
|
2
|
Jupiter Beach Park
|
Jupiter
|
10
|
Good
|
Satisfactory
|
|
3
|
Carlin Park
|
Jupiter
|
97
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
4
|
Riviera Beach
|
Riviera Bch
|
1,043
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
5
|
Phil Foster
|
Riviera Bch
|
1,723
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
7
|
Palm Beach Municipal
|
Palm Beach
|
235
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
8
|
Lake Worth- Kreusler
|
Lake Worth
|
134
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
9
|
Ocean Inlet Park
|
Ocean Ridge
|
52
|
Moderate
|
Satisfactory
|
|
10
|
Boynton Beach
|
Ocean Ridge
|
359
|
Poor
|
Advisory
|
|
12
|
Sandoway-Delray Bch
|
Delray Bch
|
41
|
Moderate
|
Satisfactory
|
|
13
|
Spanish River
|
Boca Raton
|
20
|
Good
|
Satisfactory
|
|
14
|
South Inlet Park
|
Boca Raton
|
<10
|
Good
|
Satisfactory
|
Water quality classifications are based upon:
United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended criteria for enterococci is:
Good = 0-35 Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water
Moderate = 36-70 Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water
Poor = 71 or greater Enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water or 36 or greater enterococci per 100ml of marine water as a geometric mean over a five week period.
An Advisory is issued for a beach that samples in the “Poor” range of the EPA standards. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.
If you should have any questions, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County at (561) 274-3189 or visit the Department of Health’s Internet Beach Water Quality website (www.doh.state.fl.us, click on the drop down arrow next to “Choose Subject” and then select “Beach Water Quality”).