FORT WALTON BEACH — Thirteen Okaloosa County areas 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, Fort Walton Beach; Marier Park, Wayside Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, East Pass and Emerald Promenade, Okaloosa Island; Poquito Park, Shalimar; Lincoln Park, Valparaiso; Henderson Beach, James Lee Park and Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin; and Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, 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.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 13 Okaloosa areas issued hazardous water advisories