FORT WALTON BEACH — No Okaloosa County parks have potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated Oct. 9.
No parks failed tests based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards. Enteric bacteria’s presence indicates fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.
Test sites include: Lincoln Park, Valparaiso; Poquito Park, Shalimar; Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville; Liza Jackson Park and Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach; Gulf Islands National Seashore, East Pass, Emerald Promenade, Marler Park and Wayside Park, Okaloosa Island; and Clement E. Taylor Park, Henderson Beach and James Lee Park, Destin.
All parks received "good" ratings except for Emerald Promenade, Clement E. Taylor Park, Lincoln Park, Henderson Beach and Fred Gannon, which received "moderate."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Water quality test results announced for Okaloosa parks