Beach water advisories for Lido Beach, Turtle Beach, North Jetty Beach

Beach water advisories have been issued for Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches. Sarasota County Health Department officials received testing results from beach water samples taken Wednesday, July 18, that show an elevated level of enterococci (enteric) bacteria. Enteric bacteria can come from stormwater runoff, pet waste and wildlife and human sewage. High concentrations of these bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, infections or rashes if ingested while swimming or after entering the skin through a cut or sore.

Signs advising the public not to swim or engage in water recreation at Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches will be posted until follow-up water testing results meet the Environmental Protection Agency recreational water safety standards.

Sarasota County areas that are not under a beach water advisory are Ringling Causeway, North and South Lido, Longboat Key, Siesta, Nokomis, Brohard Park, Blind Pass, Manasota Key, Caspersen, Venice Fishing Pier, Service Club and Venice public beaches. The Health Department plans to conduct follow-up water sampling Friday, July 20, with results expected in the afternoon on Saturday, July 21.

Residents and visitors may still use the Lido Key Beach, Turtle Beach and North Jetty beaches, but are urged not to wade or swim in the water or engage in water recreation until the advisory is lifted. Health officials say that shellfish collected in the immediate area of Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches, or from any beach water that has a brown tint, should not be consumed. It is safe to fish and consume fin-fish from these waters.

Residents and visitors can visit www.OurGulfEnvironment.net and click on water monitoring and then bacterial testing to check beach water testing results of area Gulf beaches, or call the Sarasota County Health Department Environmental Health office at 941-861-6133.