‘No swim’ advisory issued for beaches

As published in the
Galveston Daily News
June 26, 2004
by Nathan Smith

The Galveston County Health District issued a “no swimming” advisory along several beaches on Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula on Friday when the Texas Beach Watch program found high bacteria levels in the water.

The health district found bacteria levels in excess of state standards at 8 Mile Road on Galveston’s West End, Apffel Park on the East End and various locations between the ferry landing and Rollover Pass on the peninsula. The increased bacteria presence in the water was because of the amount of floodwater drainage running into the bay and beaches caused by recent heavy rains, said a health district representative.

“The most likely threat for swimmers would be contracting hepatitis A from the contaminated water, but there’s a variety of things that could happen, said health district spokesman Kurt Koopman. “There’s a risk in these areas mentioned in the advisory of essentially catching the same diseases that can be acquired in any flood area.”

Beach waters will be tested daily until bacterial levels return to normal, said Koopman. The “no swimming” advisory will not be lifted until then, but the health district cannot enforce the public to obey the warning.

“It’s just an advisory,” said Koopman. “It’s up to the public to take our messages and hopefully listen to them and make an informed choice.”

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org