What is the quality of the water at your favorite beach?

Beach water quality is a growing issue around the country and in Florida according to a report issued this week by the Natural Resources Defense Council. 

The Council released its annual “Testing the Waters” report which found that of the 261 beaches that are monitored for water quality around the state, about 6 percent had high bacteria counts at least 20 percent of the time.

Another 6 percent of the beaches had high bacteria counts between 10 and 20 percent of the time and about 14 percent had high bacteria counts less than 10 percent of the time.

On the bright side 14 percent of Florida’s beaches had clean water quality through the year.

The beaches with the highest percent exceedance rates in 2013 were Garniers beach in Okaloosa County, Roosevelt Bridge in Martin County, Rocky Bayou in Okaloosa County and Carl Gray Park in Bay County.

When looking at Franklin county beaches, carrabelle beach and Alligator Point had the highest number of swimming advisories.

Both were tested 18 times for water quality in 2013, carrabelle beach had high bacteria counts 28 percent of the time, for Alligator Point it was 22 percent.

The public beach on St. George Island showed high bacteria counts 11 percent of the time and the beaches at 12th street east and west showed high counts about 6 percent of the time.

Mash’s Island in Wakulla county showed high bacteria counts 50 percent of the time, and Shell Point exceeded the beach Action Value 28 percent of the time. 

In Gulf County, Dixie belle Beach exceeded the beach Action Value 33 percent of the time, Lookout beach 28 percent, Beacon Hill 25 percent, and St. Joe beach 19 percent.

You can see the report for yourself with information on every monitored beach in Florida by following the link on this story on OysterRadio.com and at the Oyster radio facebook page. 

http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/fl.asp?loc=32328

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