WALTON COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Walton County conducts regularly scheduled saltwater beach water quality monitoring at seven sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of October. The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, 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 whether Florida has significant coastal beach water quality problems and whether future beach monitoring efforts are necessary.

Site Name Enterococci Water Quality
SP-1 Miramar Beach *
SP-3 Dune Allen Beach 168 Poor
SP-4 Blue Mountain Beach 64 Moderate
SP-5 Grayton Beach 324 Poor
SP-7 Holly Street Beach 60 Moderate
SP-8 Eastern Lake Beach 16 Good
SP-9 Inlet Beach Access 24 Good

*Miramar Beach could not be sampled yesterday due to bad weather conditions. Samples were taken this morning and we should have the results tomorrow afternoon.

Water quality classifications are based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) recommended criteria and Florida Healthy Beaches Program Categories:
Good = 0 – 35 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine
Moderate = 36 – 104 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine water
Poor = greater than 105 Enterococci per 100 ml of marine water

Health Advisories have been issued for the Dune Allen Beach Access and the Grayton Beach Access based on the enterococci standard recommended by the EPA. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.

If you should have any questions, please contact the FDOH in Walton County at (850) 892-8021, or visit the Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality website www.floridahealth.gov/healthy-environments/beach-water-quality/index.html.