The Department of Health/Broward County Health Department collects beach water samples on beach sites along the Coast of Broward County to monitor the quality of the beach water. Weekly beach water samples are to be collected from the ocean at fifteen (15) selected locations in Broward County: 6 sites from Hallandale Beach to John Lloyd State Park will be done on Monday and 9 sites from Bahia Mar to Deerfield Beach will be done on Tuesday. These samples will be delivered to the DOH Miami Lab for fecal coli form and enterococci analyses.

Test results will be entered into the state database. The public can access these results by logging onto the Department of Health Website and select “Beach Water Quality” from the “Subject List” in the dropdown menu on the site.

In case a sample result exceeds the fecal coli form (399 colonies forming units (CFU) per 100 mL) or enterococci (104 CFU/mL for a single sample or 35 CFU/mL for a geometric mean average) standards, a repeat sample will be taken the next day. If the repeat sample fails the fecal coli form standard, a Warning sign will be posted at the beach site until it is cleared by satisfactory repeat sample and if it fails the enterococci standard, an Advisory sign will be posted at the beach site until it is cleared as above.

Links of Interest::
http://esetappsdoh.doh.state.fl.us/irm00beachwater/default.aspx