Swimming advisory issued for Mobile Bay at Fairhope Beach: ADPH

FAIRHOPE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Baldwin County health officials issued a public swimming advisory for the waters of Mobile Bay at Fairhope Beach.

According to a release from the Alabama Department of Public Health, two recent successive tests of swimming water quality were poor.

This means swimming in the area could lead to an increased risk of illness.

“Monitoring will continue and the advisory will be lifted once bacteria values fall below the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 104 enterococcus organisms per 100 milliliters for marine water,” the release said.

The enterococci bacteria inhabit human intestines and other warm-blooded animals.

The higher concentration of the bacteria in recreational areas can result after heavy rainfall from overflowing sewage collection, treatment facilities, stormwater run-off, malfunctioning septic systems, and agricultural run-off.

The public health department will issue another advisory once the public swimming advisory is lifted after enterococci levels fall below the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 104 enterococcus organisms per 100 milliliters of marine water.

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