PANAMA CITY BEACH - The Florida Department of Health in Bay County swimming advisory has been issued for the Spy Glass Drive (#7) location.
The department conducts saltwater beach water quality monitoring in accordance with the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Water samples are collected twice a month between March and October. The samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, and may cause human disease, infections or rashes, officials wrote in a news release.
The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage. Poor results are posted as an “Advisory” at the affected beaches and those beaches are re-sampled the following week.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact the Florida Department of Health in Bay County at 872-4455 ext. 1268, or visit the Department of Health’s Internet Beach Water Quality website http://www.floridahealth.gov/healthy-environments/beach-water-quality/index.html.