Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals monitors beach quality, and after recent testing, an advisory has been issued to a handful of beaches in Louisiana, including Cypremort point.

The Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals Beach Monitoring Program tests water at 25 beach sites along the Louisiana coast to determine whether the water quality meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria. This program is part of the federal Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000. The BEACH Act is an amendment to the Clean Water Act requiring all coastal states to develop programs for effective water quality monitoring and public notification at coastal recreational beaches.

DHH analyzes the beach water for enterococci and fecal coliform bacteria. These bacteria represent those commonly found in sewage pollution, and which could cause disease, infections or rashes. These analyses are performed on a weekly basis from May 1st through October 31st.

If bacteria levels are detected, DHH issues an advisory, and swim advisory signs posted near the shoreline are opened to advise beachgoers to refrain from swimming until bacteria levels are in compliance with federal guidelines.

(DHH)

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