RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — The Department of Health in Palm Beach County issued another water quality advisory for Phil Foster Park.
The agency announced the advisory Wednesday after tests completed Monday did not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health.
“I saw the advisory. I thought I'd check for myself,” longtime diver John Ozog said. "It was checked a couple days ago. It was supposed to be checked again this morning, so I came out physically to take a look."
It's the second advisory issued for the park in less than a month.
The last advisory was issued by the health department on March 27 and included six other beaches.
The department said it advises against any water-related activities at the park due to an increased risk of illness to swimmers.
"It was still pertinent for today and then I decided that I'm going to call the dives off this afternoon,” Ozog said.
The Environmental Protection Agency describes Enterococci as bacteria that live in the intestines of some animals including humans. The presence of the bacteria can possibly indicate the contamination of bodies of water by fecal matter.
"I didn't wanna get anything in my throat, because when your regulator comes out, you're going to get a little bit of water in your mouth and you're going to get a water in your ears," Ozog said. "I didn't want to get bacterial growth in my ears and then for the potential viability of a student, you don't want your student to get sick.”
However, other beachgoers and nurses WPTV found said the water quality advisories are just that— a recommendation.
“Generally speaking, they're not typically hazardous, but certainly any type of pathogenic overload or exposure in the wrong places is not completely healthy," nurse Jenna Colelli explained.
According to recent correspondence with the DOH, Phil Foster Park had a water quality health advisory lifted March 28.
While we wait for the latest advisory to be clear, people today like Colelli said wade at your own risk.
"I don't think it will prevent us from dipping our feet in by any means," Colelli said. "We're both very healthy and take good care of ourselves, so everything in moderation."
Health officials said this advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level.
To view test results, visit FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
