LTC 511-2017 Questions on the Collins Park Beach Swimmimg AdvisoMIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC#
511-2017 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Memb s of the Citymmission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manag
DATE: October 24, 2017
SUBJECT: Questions on the Collins Park= Beach Swimming Advisory
On October 19, 2017, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) issued a swimming advisory for
Collins Park Beach (21st Street). The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide
clarification and answer the questions I have received regarding this advisory.
Since 2002, the DOH has regularly monitored beach water quality in all 30 of Florida's coastal
counties to ensure the safety of recreational beach -goers. The program, known as the Florida
Healthy Beaches Program, consists of weekly marine beach water quality monitoring at 17
established sampling sites within Miami -Dade County including 21st Street in Miami Beach. The
sampling sites are selected based on the frequency and intensity of recreational water use and
the proximity to pollution sources. The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria, known as
enterococci, that normally inhabit the intestinal track of humans and animals, and which may
cause human disease, infections, or illness. More information on the Florida Healthy Beaches
Program is available on the DOH website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-
health/beach-water-quality/.
Samples of beach water collected last week at 21st Street did not meet the recreational water
quality standard for enterococci. By state regulation, the DOH is required to issue an advisory to
inform the public in a specific area when this standard is not met. An advisory for the beach site
at 21st Street was issued because two consecutive samples collected at this beach exceeded
the Federal and State recommended standard for enterococci (greater than 70 colony forming
units of enterococci per 100m1 for a single sample). Water quality samples will be tested daily
until the all -clear is given.
The prevalence of enterococci is an indicator of fecal pollution, which may come from wildlife,
pets, human sewage, and storm water run-off. It is important to note that while Collins Park
Beach samples show elevated bacteria levels, we have confirmed they are not from a leak in our
sewer system. Sewer system leaks and discharges have been reported in other areas of Miami -
Dade County. However, based on their location, the nature of their effluent, and/or the pattern of
local currents, it is highly unlikely that they were the cause of the swimming advisory in Miami
Beach. Figure 1 shows the movement of currents between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
as documented during the University of Miami's drift card study, also known as Bay Drift.
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While the DOH does not track the source of the elevated levels, we are working with Miami -Dade
County, DOH, and other environmental agencies to understand what other factors (changes in
water chemistry, temperature, wildlife or recreational inputs) may be causing these exceedances.
Please do not hesitate to contact Margarita Wells, Acting Environment and Sustainability
Director, at 305-673-7010 or via e-mail at margaritawells@miamibeachfl.gov if you have any
questions.
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