DEP Launches Initiative to Reduce Pathogens in Recreational Waters

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has announced an initiative beginning this week to make Floridas beach waters and other recreational waters safer.

In a written press statement the department said it has new laboratory tools and assessment methods to identify and reduce the sources of pathogens in recreational waters. It will develop new rules that refine water quality standards to take advantage of this new technology and the data.

Measuring fecal bacteria levels is easy, said Drew Bartlett, Director of the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration. Unfortunately, readily distinguishing the sources of the bacteria and the potentially harmful pathogens that may go along with them has been beyond scientific capabilities. We have tools to address the issue now and will craft rules and protocols that guide on-the-ground action to protect public health.

The department is engaging a technical advisory committee to advise on the scientific intricacies of the rules since they will be implemented using cutting-edge scientific technologies.

The committee of experts includes representatives of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, local government and the academic community.

The new laboratory tools will help the department's scientists quickly identify whether fecal bacteria, an indicator of the possible presence of pathogens, are related to humans, animals or other sources.