| Beach
advisories lifted
June 29, 2004
Port Arthur News
By Marilyn Tennissen - The News staff writer
"No Swimming" advisories
issued by the Galveston County Health District for three area
beaches have been lifted. Samples of beach water taken Monday
indicated normal/safe levels of bacteria at all locations
tested.
Studies were conducted at Sea Rim State Park
on Tuesday and results are pending.
The Health District issued advisories on June
25 when high bacteria levels were counted at several area
beaches, including parts of the Bolivar Peninsula near Rollover
Pass. Other beaches affected were Appfel Park on Galveston's
east end and Eight Mile Road.
Kurt Koopmann, Public Information Officer for
the Galveston County Health District, said there were never
any beach closures and no illnesses, including hepatitis A,
were suspected or confirmed. The District issued only advisories
against swimming. The most likely reason for the increased
bacterial count was due to the recent heavy rains and runoff
of fecal material into area waterways.
Koopmann said misinformation about hepatitis
A being detected in the coastal waters caused his office to
become inundated with calls from the public and media.
"The Galveston County Health District
will continue to monitor area waters to insure the publics'
recreational safety," Koopmann said. "Galveston
County is blessed with an abundance of beautiful beaches and
we encourage the public to enjoy them as often as possible."
The District's water pollution program, under
guidance from the State of Texas General Land Office, routinely
collects water samples to test for certain types of bacteria.
When such bacterial counts exceed state standards, an advisory
is released to inform the public of potential risk.
For more information citizens may call the
Galveston County Health District at (409) 938-2211, or visit
their web site at www.gchd.org.
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
Read
the press release
|
