A new Environment America report is making waves, and anyone who swims, fishes or vacations at Florida lakes and rivers should know about it. The group analyzed water quality data from 17 states and more than 4,500 testing locations and found potentially unsafe bacteria levels on at least one day at 69% of tested river and lake sites. E. coli, an indicator of fecal contamination, appeared in every state in the analysis, and about half of the monitoring sites had elevated levels on 25% or more of test days.
The sources of contamination are familiar ones: sewage overflows, stormwater runoff and leaking septic tanks. John Rumpler, Environment America’s clean water director, says the risk is real for families who plan entire vacations around the water. The practical takeaway is simple. Check state or county health advisories and the EPA’s water quality portal before you head out, watch for warning signs like discolored, smelly or foamy water, and stay out of rivers and lakes for 48 to 72 hours after heavy rain.
Here on the Suncoast, we already know the routine with beach advisories and red tide. Inland spots like the Myakka River deserve the same attention, so make the advisory check part of your trip planning alongside the sunscreen and the cooler. Where’s your favorite local swimming spot, and do you check the water before you go?
