The Health Department in Baldwin County, Alabama has issued a public swimming advisory for the waters of Mobile Bay at MayDay Park in Daphne and Bon Secour Bay at Mary Ann Nelson Park in Barnwell (South of Fairhope). Recent tests of the water quality in these areas have shown high levels of bacteria, posing a risk of illness for those who swim in them.
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has been monitoring the water quality 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. The ADPH, along with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), operates a bacteriological water quality monitoring program funded by the EPA’s BEACH Act Program, which includes routine testing at twenty-five high-use coastal recreational sites.
Enterococci bacteria are used as an indicator of other potentially harmful germs in the water. High bacteria counts can indicate the presence of disease-causing organisms, which may be more prevalent in the water following rainstorms due to sewage overflow, stormwater runoff, septic system failures, and agricultural runoff. While there have been no known sewage spills in the area, the Health Department is taking precautions to protect the public’s health.
When water samples exceed the EPA standard for bacteria levels, the site is retested to confirm the results. If high bacteria levels persist, a public advisory is issued through the news media to alert the community of the increased risk of illness associated with swimming in the affected area. Monitoring will continue until the water quality improves and the advisory can be lifted.