A no-swimming flag flies at Lido Beach in Sarasota. The Sarasota County Health Department issued no-swimming advisories for Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches on Thursday.

By VINCENT F. SAFUTO, Correspondent

High levels of bacteria at three Sarasota County beaches have led to advisories against swimming or engaging in water recreation, though residents and visitors still can use the beaches.

Water samples taken Wednesday at Lido Beach, Turtle Beach and North Jetty Beach showed an elevated level of enterococci (enteric) bacteria, according to a press release from the Sarasota County Health Department on Thursday afternoon.

Signs at the three beaches warning against swimming or water recreation will be posted, the department said, until follow-up testing today with results expected Saturday shows that the levels are safe. The results have to meet federal Environmental Protection Agency recreational water safety standards.

Enteric bacteria can come from stormwater runoff, pet waste and wildlife and human sewage, said Tom Higginbotham, the Health Department's environmental health administrator.

The intent of the Florida Healthy Beaches program is to provide residents and visitors with accurate, up-to-date information about the water quality at our 16 area beaches. Enteric bacteria can come from stormwater runoff, pet waste and wildlife and human sewage," he said. High concentrations of these bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, infections or rashes if ingested while swimming or after entering the skin through a cut or sore."

Health officials said that shellfish collected in the immediate area of Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches, or from any beach water that has a brown tint, should not be consumed. It is safe to fish and consume fin-fish, however.

The areas not under a beach water advisory are Ringling Causeway, North and South Lido, Longboat Key, Siesta, Nokomis, Brohard Park, Blind Pass, Manasota Key, Caspersen, Venice Fishing Pier, Service Club and Venice public beaches.

To find out about beach water conditions, visit http://www.OurGulfEnvironment.net, click on Water Monitoring and then click on "Bacterial Testing" to check the testing results of area Gulf Beaches, or call the Sarasota County Health Department Environmental Health office at (941) 861-6133.

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No-swimming advisories at Lido, Turtle and North Jetty beaches