Lee Department of Health in Lee County lifts water quality advisory for Bowditch Point Regional Park

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has lifted a water quality advisory for Bowditch Point Regional Park, five days after issuing one due to elevated levels of enterococcus bacteria that had been found in testing Sept. 17.

Tests completed on Monday “indicate that the water quality at Bowditch Park shows an acceptable level of Enterococcus bacteria established by state guidelines,” the department said in a press release.

The Department of Health in Lee County samples and monitors public beaches weekly for enterococci bacteria through the Florida Healthy Beaches Program. The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage, according to the Florida Department of Health in Lee County.

When an advisory is issued due to elevated bacteria levels, additional resampling is conducted twice per week until the water quality has returned to acceptable levels. As of Tuesday morning the advisory was still in place until being lifted late in the afternoon.

Last week, the Florida Department of Health advised against any water-related activities at Bowditch Point Regional Park due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during regular water quality monitoring showed that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.

Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.