Department of Health issues swimming advisory for part of NSB due to piped water drainage from flooded streets

NSBNEWS.net photo by Henry Frederick. A swimming advisory is in effect for a stretch of New Smyrna Beach, south of Flagler Avenue, where excess rainwater is being piped into the ocean to allviate street flooding.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Volusia County Health Department has issued a swimming advisory for the Columbus Avenue area of the beach.

"This swimming advisory is necessary because in an effort to alleviate flooding in the area the City of New Smyrna Beach is pumping flood water from local neighborhoods to the beach," said Shelley Szafraniec, Volusia County spokeswoman. "The water has not been tested for bacteria, but is likely to contain increased levels of bacteria. Advisory signs are being posted at this site."

A swimming advisory means that contact with the water may pose an increased risk of infectious disease, and swimming is not recommended at this time. This site represents a small section of Volusia County’s coastline.

The location of stormwater discharge pipes may change over the next several days. If the location of discharge pipes changes, advisories will be posted on the beach, Szafraniec said. If discharge pipes are observed, swimmers are advised to find a different area of the beach to swim, she said.

Szafraniec said water sampling will be conducted Tuesday and the beach advisory will be lifted as soon as it is possible to do so. Background information on the Aquatic Toxins Program and Florida Healthy Beaches Program can be found at www.doh.state.fl.us.