Swimming Safety: Public Advisory Issued for Two Baldwin County Water Bodies Due to Poor Water Quality

In Baldwin County, Alabama, the Health Department has issued a public swimming advisory for two areas: Mobile Bay at MayDay Park in Daphne and Bon Secour Bay at Mary Ann Nelson Park in Barnwell (south of Fairhope). Recent tests of water quality in these locations have shown poor results, indicating a higher risk of illness for those who swim in these waters.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is responsible for monitoring the water quality in these areas and will continue to do so until the bacteria levels fall below the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 104 enterococcus organisms per 100 milliliters for marine water. This monitoring program is operated by the ADPH and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) under a grant from the EPA’s BEACH Act Program.

The program involves routine collection of water samples from twenty-five high-use coastal recreational sites, which are then analyzed for enterococci bacteria. High counts of this bacteria indicate the potential presence of other disease-causing germs in the water. The bacteria can increase during and after rainstorms due to various sources like sewage overflows, storm water runoff, septic system issues, and agricultural runoff.

If the monitoring results exceed the EPA standard, the site is retested immediately. If the levels of enterococci persist above the standard in the second test, a public advisory is issued through the health department and news media outlets to inform the public of the increased risk of illness associated with swimming in the affected area. As of now, there have been no known sewage spills in the areas under advisory.