NAPLES, Fla. -- Health officials are warning swimmers about elevated bacteria detected in water samples taken at the Naples Pier this week. Several signs were posted near the pier Thursday, saying "Advisory: high bacteria levels. Swimming not recommended due to increased risk of illness at this time."
The Collier County office of the Florida Department of Health found unsafe levels of the enterococci bacteria in samples taken at the pier on Monday. They retested the water on Wednesday to find even higher levels, resulting in a 'poor' rating.
"This would be our first health advisory for any beach in Collier County in the last ten years," said Andrea McKinney of DOH-Collier.
Officials say the bacteria is generally associated with wildlife, heavy recreational usage, runoff following heavy rains, and high surf from high winds and high tides.
They recommend always rinsing with fresh water after swimming in any natural body of water.
Swimmers are urged not to swallow the water while swimming.
"If you do swallow the water or get it into any open wound, it can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, infection and rash," McKinney said.
Samples taken at 10 other locations in Collier County found no trace of the bacteria. McKinney said DOH-Collier will sample the water near the pier every day, until the bacteria levels decrease enough to remove the advisory signs.
