Health Advisories Issued at Two Tampa Beaches

Summer is a great time to take a dip, but beachgoers at two Tampa Bay area beaches will want to steer clear of the waters.

Hillsborough County issued health advisories for Picnic Island Beach in South Tampa and Davis Island Beach near downtown Tampa due to the presence bacteria found in the bay waters adjoining the beaches.

Water samples taken Monday detect the presence of enterococci in the waters, a bacteria which indicates levels of fecal pollution which could cause human disease, infections and rashes. The county says the pollution may have come from stormwater runoff, wildlife waste, or human sewage.

The Hillsborough County Health Department says it is still safe to sunbathe and picnic at the respective beaches, but officials strongly advise against entering the beach waters.