HEALTH

SLC DOH issues water advisory for North Fork of St. Lucie River

Ed Killer
Treasure Coast Newspapers

There is a swimming advisory issued for the North Fork of the St. Lucie River at River Park Marina, the Florida health department office in St. Lucie County warned Friday.

High levels of enteric bacteria were present.

A “poor” bacteria-level ranking is 71 or more enterococcus per 100 milliliters of water. The level was 560 in water samples taken May 30. A confirmation sample was collected June 2.

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Phase 1 of the City of Port St. Lucie's Riverwalk Boardwalk, Westmoreland segment adjacent to Bridge Plaza, is nearly complete Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, and runs along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie. The Westmoreland segment on the river is approximately 1,300 feet, with an additional 500 feet of boardwalk headed upland from the river connecting to Bridge Plaza, and should be opening in the coming weeks. While there is some remaining work to be completed, the city will announce the opening on their website and social media, once the work is completed and an opening date determined.

The bacteria advisory will remain in effect until results show consistent readings in the good range. The area will be retested June 12 and results will be available June 15.

Enteric bacteria, a sign of fecal pollution, inhabit the intestinal tract of people and animals. The bacteria's presence in the water typically comes from pets, wildlife, livestock, human sewage and stormwater runoff, especially after heavy rains.

It can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, eye irritation and skin rashes if touched or ingested, according to DOH.

Previous health warnings for Veterans Park downstream have been lifted. Samples show water to be in the "good" range there.

For more information on the advisory go to Stlucie.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/environmental-health/north-fork-bacteria-testing.