FORT WALTON BEACH — Five parks may have potentially hazardous bathing water, The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.
Advisories have been issued for Garniers Park of Fort Walton Beach; Poquito Park of Shalimar; East Pass of Destin; Lincoln Park of Valparaiso; and Rocky Bayou State Park of Niceville based on the enterococci standards recommended by the EPA. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public.
*Please be advised that advisories issued due to recent sewer spills are still in effect. Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach, Marler Park on Okaloosa Island, and Lincoln Park in Valparaiso are under an advisory until further notice.
Due to poor water quality at East Pass in Destin and the recent wastewater spill in Fort Walton Beach and in an abundance of caution, Health Department officials are extending advisories to Gulf Islands National Seashore on Okaloosa Island and Clement E. Taylor Park in Destin until next week’s testing.
The health department advises the public not to enter the water, use water or jet skis, or boat in waters from Liza Jackson Park in Fort Walton Beach to Clement E. Taylor Park in Destin until samples show that the waters are safe.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Five parks receive advisories for fecal matter and sewage spill