FORT WALTON BEACH — Four Okaloosa County parks have potentially hazardous bathing water, according to the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County's latest test results.
Advisories have been issued for Liza Jackson Park and Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach; Lincoln Park of Valparaiso; and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville based on the enterococci standards recommended by the EPA.
Enteric bacteria’s presence indicates fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.
The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County conducts weekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 13 sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.
The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals and which may cause human disease, infections or rashes.
This is the final routine saltwater beach sampling for 2015. Routine sampling will resume in March 2016.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa health department announces final water quality results of 2015