Five Okaloosa County parks may have potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.
Advisories have been issued for Liza Jackson Park and Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach; Poquito Park of Shalimar; Lincoln Park of Valparaiso; and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville, based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards. These areas present potential health risks to the bathing public.
The department tests weekly for enterococci, which indicates fecal pollution and comes from stormwater runoff, pets, wildlife and human sewage. Ratings are based on EPA standards.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 parks receive advisories for hazardous water