Collier beaches OK for swimmers; health officials lift bacteria warnings

The coast is clear.

Collier County health officials on Friday lifted their swim advisories for eight beaches after a new round of tests indicated coastal waters that had shown elevated levels of bacteria earlier this week were safe again.

The Florida Department of Health in Collier took samples at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, the Naples Pier, Residents Beach, South Marco Beach, Park Shore, Barefoot Beach, Vanderbilt Beach and Seagate Beach on Thursday to gauge the levels of enterococcus bacteria, an indicator of fecal pollution, in the water. 

The tests came back Friday and yielded results "within the accepted, healthy level," said Health Department spokeswoman Kristine Gajos.

"All eight beaches have cleared," she said.

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Health department officials had posted warning signs Wednesday at the eight affected beaches after routine testing put the water quality at those beaches in the "poor" category.

The advisories warned against swimming at the posted beaches. Officials urged beachgoers who chose to swim anyway to rinse off right afterward because the bacteria could cause a rash or infection.

On Friday, crews returned to the eight beaches to remove the signs, Gajos said.

What exactly caused the high levels of bacteria is unclear, though officials said runoff from heavy rains and heavier surf from Hurricane Michael could have been contributing factors.

Gajos said the health department did not receive any reports of swimmers suffering health problems from the elevated bacteria levels.

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