Florida issues avoid-water advisories for high bacteria in North Fork of St. Lucie River

If weather permits some time on the water this weekend, choose carefully where to take a dip.

Elevated levels of enteric bacteria, a sign of fecal pollution, are being reported at several sites along the Treasure Coast.

The Florida Department of Health at St. Lucie County is warning people not to swim at three sites in the North Fork of the St. Lucie River because of high levels of the bacteria:

River Park Marina

Veterans Park

Westmoreland canoe launch

Moderate levels of enteric bacteria were found at:

South Jetty Park in Fort Pierce

Jaycee Park on the lagoon in Fort Pierce

Stuart Sandbar in the lagoon off Sailfish Point

No elevated bacteria counts were reported in Indian River County.

How's the water?: Check out our interactive map

Health hazards

Enteric bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of people and animals. Potential health risks for people who ingest or come into contact with bacteria in the water include upset stomach, diarrhea, eye irritation and skin rashes.

More: Natural bacteria, likely from St. Lucie, infects sailor's hand

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To the south, a stay-out-of-the-water advisory is in effect at Lake Worth Beach and moderate levels of bacteria were reported at Jupiter Beach Park, Riviera Municipal Beach and Palm Beach.

To the north, moderate levels of enteric bacteria were found at the Cocoa Beach Pier in Brevard County.

Statewide, stay-out-of-the-water advisories have been issued at Bayou Texar near Pensacola and at Davis Island Beach and Cypress Point Park North, in Hillsborough County near Tampa.

Nineteen sites throughout the state have high levels of bacteria; 22 sites have moderate levels.

More: High bacteria prompts 13 advisories in November

Most county offices of the Florida Department of Health tests water samples from ocean beaches and sites along the lagoon and rivers every two weeks as part of the Florida Healthy Beaches Program.

Martin County checks river water every week and beaches every other week.

Blame it on the rain

Heavy rains over the past week are "the likely cause" of the elevated bacteria levels, said Benjamin Juengst, health manager at the state health department office in Martin County.

"Heavy rainfall like we've been having this week affects the performance of septic systems and wastewater treatment plants," Juengst said. "They just don't function as well when they're overwhelmed by all that water."

Heavy rains also wash animal waste into ditches, creeks and, eventually, the river and lagoon.

Rainfall amounts along the Treasure Coast from Saturday through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne, include:

Sebastian: 6.7 inches

Port Salerno: 5.88 inches

Stuart: 5.24 inches

Port St. Lucie: 4 to 4.5 inches

Vero Beach: 2.5 to 4 inches

More rain is coming this weekend, although sites will be more "hit and miss," said Kevin Rodriguez, a meteorologist at Melbourne.

"There's going to be rain," Rodriguez said, "but it won't be as widespread. Inland areas will see more rain than the coast."