Public Safety

New health advisory issued for Cinco Bayou days after previous one lifted

The Okaloosa Health Department has issued a new water quality advisory for Cinco Bayou, days after lifting an earlier advisory for the same waterway.

Jared Williams

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The Okaloosa Health Department has issued a new water quality advisory for Cinco Bayou in Fort Walton Beach, two days after lifting a previous advisory for the same location.

Tests completed by Okaloosa County’s Natural Resources Department on Thursday, Aug. 20, indicate the water quality at Cinco Bayou does not meet the state’s recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria. Sampling showed the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.

The department advises against any water-related activities at the location due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. The advisory will continue until bacteria levels fall below the accepted health level.

The new advisory, issued Friday, Aug. 21, comes just two days after the health department lifted an earlier advisory for Cinco Bayou on Tuesday, Aug. 19, when sampling showed bacteria levels had dropped below the advisory threshold.

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