514.023 Sampling of beach waters; health advisories. - Florida Statutes

514.023 Sampling of beach waters; health advisories.

   (1) As used in this section, the term “beach waters” means the waters along the coastal and intracoastal beaches and shores of the state, and includes salt water and brackish water.

   (2) The department may adopt and enforce rules to protect the health, safety, and welfare of persons using the beach waters of the state. The rules must establish health standards and prescribe procedures and timeframes for bacteriological sampling of beach waters.

   (3) The department may issue health advisories if the quality of beach waters fails to meet standards established by the department. The issuance of health advisories related to the results of bacteriological sampling of beach waters is preempted to the state.

   (4) When the department issues a health advisory against swimming in beach waters on the basis of finding elevated levels of fecal coliform or enterococci bacteria in a water sample, the department shall concurrently notify the municipality or county in which the affected beach waters are located, whichever has jurisdiction, and the local office of the Department of Environmental Protection, of the advisory. The local office of the Department of Environmental Protection shall promptly investigate wastewater treatment facilities within 1 mile of the affected beach waters to determine if a facility experienced an incident that may have contributed to the contamination and provide the results of the investigation in writing or by electronic means to the municipality or county, as applicable.

   (5) Contingent upon legislative appropriation to the department in the amount of $600,000 nonrecurring, the department will perform a 3-year study to determine the water quality at beaches throughout the state. The study will be performed in all counties that have public-access saltwater and brackish water beaches.

History. s. 2, ch. 2000-309; s. 1, ch. 2009-231.