TAMPA, Fla. — It's no secret that it's hot out and the perfect place to cool off is the beach. What people may not know is it's important to check for water quality alerts before hopping in the water at specific Tampa Bay area beaches.
One of those beaches you'll want on your radar is Davis Islands Beach. It's a place common for people and pups to hop in the water.
With the uptick in rain, water quality alerts have been more frequent. The Florida Department of Health samples the water weekly and posts the results online. That's where people can see the results of the levels of fecal matter in the water.
When the water quality is poor, people and dogs should avoid swimming. Experts explained that if a person ingests the water it will most likely make them ill.
"It would be swimming that would be the highest risk for getting sick, but also playing in the sand interestingly puts you at risk," Valerie Harwood, a USF Professor said. If the contaminated water touches the sand, that too can make a person sick Harwood explained.
It's not just people who need to be cautious. Animal experts explained that contaminated water could be very dangerous for animals, like dogs.
"If the fecal matter, the E. Coli, gets into their bloodstream and they are at risk for blood poisoning and that can be lethal," USF Associate Professor of Biology Deby Cassill said.
So why are there high levels of fecal matter in the water at times? Professors point to the rainy season.
"When it rains, typically, we see higher levels of the fecal indicator bacteria," Harwood stated.
Harwood said when it rains, sewage makes its way from storm drains into bodies of water like the Bay.
"There’s a lot of that bacteria to get washed off in stormwater and into the surface water so the rivers, lake, streams, oceans," Harwood added.
That means sewage could be swimming in the same water people are.
"These bacteria come from the feces of animals, humans... they’re very widespread in the gastrointestinal tract," Harwood added.
There is good news, fecal matter does dissipate.
"Sewage floats, E. Coli floats on the top of the water and the sun will within a week or two will burn it off and eliminate it," Cassill added.
To confirm the water is safe for swimming, you can check the FDOH's website weekly.