Beach Water Monitoring Sites (2005)

Florida beach water monitoring sample locations.

Beginning with a 1998 pilot program, 11 Florida coastal counties began conducting beach water sampling every two weeks and reporting the results here and in local news media. In August 2000, the beach water sampling program was expanded to include the 34 Florida counties shown on the map below. In August 2002, the coastal counties began collecting weekly samples.

The coastal beach water samples collected by the county health departments are analyzed for enterococci and fecal coliform bacteria. High concentrations of these bacteria may indicate the presence of microorganisms that could cause disease, infections, or rashes. County health departments will issue health advisories or warnings when these conditions are confirmed.

Source: www.doh.state.f...