The health authorities of Florida lifted on Thursday the warning advising against water activities in Phil Foster Park, in Riviera Beach, after new tests indicated an improvement in water quality.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County officially reported that tests conducted on Wednesday, September 16, detected an acceptable level of Enterococcus bacteria according to state guidelines, which allowed the advisory to be lifted.
The warning had been issued just two days prior, on September 15, after analyses conducted on Monday the 14th showed concentrations of enterococci exceeding the established levels for recreational waters.
At that time, authorities recommended avoiding swimming and any other activities that involved contact with the water due to the increased risk of diseases for bathers.
The Palm Beach Post noted that the initial sample received a "poor" quality rating, with approximately 70.5 units per 100 milliliters of water, compared to a safe level of no more than 35.
Enterococci are bacteria normally found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals.
When present in high concentrations in recreational waters, they can serve as an indicator of pollution and a greater risk of infections or diseases among those who come into contact with the water.
Among the possible causes of elevated concentrations are animal waste, intense recreational activities, tides, wave action, and runoff caused by rain, according to health authorities.
Phil Foster Park is a well-known destination in Riviera Beach, in Palm Beach County, frequented by sunbathers, snorkelers, and kayakers.
This is not the first time this year that Florida authorities have issued warnings of this kind.
At the end of August, it was recommended to avoid swimming at Crandon Park North in Key Biscayne, after elevated levels of enterococci were detected, associated with possible fecal contamination.
In July, Bark Beach and Golden Beach, in Miami-Dade, were also temporarily declared unsafe for swimming after water tests detected Enterococcus concentrations exceeding established limits.
A similar incident occurred in September 2025, when Crandon Park North and South Point Drive Beach were placed under a public health alert due to elevated levels of the same bacteria.
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