Spanish River Park Beach Reopened, Swimming Permitted

BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The closure is over at Spanish River Park Beach. The Florida Department of Health Thursday afternoon giving the “all clear” for water bacterial levels.

Here’s the official announcement from the City of Boca Raton, followed by the original announcement closing the beach earlier this week.

The Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County has conducted a saltwater beach water quality sampling Spanish River Beach and determined that the water quality is good and safe for swimming. The park and beach are open, and swimming is now permitted. 

3/26/2024

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) of Palm Beach County conducts regular beach water quality sampling and has posted a Health Advisory for Spanish River Park Beach. A recent sampling showed elevated bacterial levels in the water. As a precaution, swimming at Spanish River Park Beach is prohibited until further notice. 

FDOH found sample levels to be greater than 71 colonies per 100 millimeters of marine water putting the beach in the “poor range,” which indicates a potential health risk to the bathing public.

For the safety of residents and visitors, swimming is prohibited until further notice; however, the park and beach will remain open.  Additional water samples will be taken and it is hoped that full use of the beach may resume within the next 24 to 48 hours.

The cause of the elevated level of bacteria that prompted the advisory is unknown, but is generally associated with storm water runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. 

For more information, please contact the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County at 561-837-5988 or visit the FL Department of Health’s website for Beach Water Quality.