NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Heading to the beach for the long weekend? Dozens of Gulf beaches are under a no-swimming advisory because of high levels of a harmful bacteria commonly found in sewage pollution.
Elevated levels of the enterococci bacteria have been discovered in dozens of beaches along the Gulf coast from Texas to Florida, and the bacteria can cause disease, infections or rashes in swimmers.
The Louisiana Department of Health Beach Monitoring Program tests water at 24 beach sites along the Louisiana coast to determine whether the water quality meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria.
Beaches with advisories in Louisiana include two of the Grand Isle beaches; three of the Holly Beach beaches; Lake Charles South; Dung Beach; Martin Beach and Rutherford Beach.
In Mississippi, a portion of Gulfport Harbor Beach has a no-swimming advisory.
Beaches with health advisories in Florida include Okaloosa, Walton, Blue Mountain Beach, Clement E. Taylor Park, County Park (Miramar) Beach, East Pass, Garniers Park, Henderson Beach, Poquito Park, and Rocky Bayou State Park.
See all beaches under advisory:
Alabama
Florida
Louisiana
Mississippi
Texas (Galveston)
