FL- Red Tide Drags On In Flagler, Volusia Counties As Sanibel Sewage Plants Crank Out The Coliform

[hatrack]

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The red tide bloom, which arrived in the first week of October, continues to plague Volusia and Flagler counties, adding the sound of hacking coughs to the rumble of the surf. Red tide is an irritant to humans and a killer to things with gills.

The red tide is also threatening to put a damper on the 8th annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic on Saturday in Flagler Beach. Organizers said Wednesday the tournament would go on despite the red tide.

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Red tide levels along Volusia beaches ranged from low to medium, according to a news release Wednesday from the Volusia County Health Department. Red tide has carried away lots of business at the Flagler Beach pier, said Joe Pizzo, a security guard. On Wednesday, Pizzo was wearing a dust mask. "We expected a lot of crowds with (Biketoberfest) but they haven't been coming," he said.

The red tide didn't stop Ben Peacock of Ormond Beach from splashing into the surf at Flagler Beach as he practiced for the surfing tournament. Peacock said he coughed a lot at first when he got out of his car. But it got better. He described himself as a kind of guinea pig, one with a surfboard. "We are here making sure it's safe for everybody," he said.

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http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Beaches/bchHEAD03BEACH101807.htm

Two Captiva sewage plants are spewing water that exceeds fecal and waste residue limits according to test results released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The tests come days after reports that private sewage plants and septic tanks on Captiva and Sanibel have a history of DEP violations and after health officials declared a nearby beach contaminated with bacteria a fourth consecutive week.

Captiva Shores scored a 3,500 on a fecal coliform test, well above the 800 limit. Tween Waters Inn was tested at 10.6 on a test that measures how many particles of waste residue are in the discharged water. The allowable level is 10.

Mick Denham, the mayor of Sanibel, has argued there may be a connection between the sewage plants and the Gulf pollution. Wednesday’s findings substantiate his theory, he said.

“We in this area have a significant problem of sewage getting into the waterways and we wonder why we have red algae and fish kill,” Denham said. “It’s no wonder we have these problems when we have these facilities with violations.”

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http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071017/NEWS0116/71017063/1075

[TwilightGardener]

1. Flagler Beach is a good dog beach. Too bad--my Weimaraner had the time of his life there.

[Nihil]

2. "Well above"?

> Captiva Shores scored a 3,500 on a fecal coliform test,
> well above the 800 limit.

It was over FOUR TIMES the limit!

:wtf: