New water testing sites are coming to southern Sarasota County to ensure water safety and education about bacteria.
It’s all a part of a grant totaling $400,000 over two years. Within the grant, one local nonprofit, Suncoast Waterkeeper, is able to add eight new testing sites, to better cover Sarasota County bays.
“Fecal indicator testing is going to occur weekly here but also on Turtle Beach but not on the gulf side, on the bay side,” said Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper.
“There are several other sites, if you’ve ever gone to the park right off of Vamo, or Indian Mound Park. We’re testing eight new sites and we’re looking for more.
Fecal indicator testing targets a bacteria known as Internal Cocci in brackish water. In fresh water, it’s known as E. coli.
Another area the grant is able to provide funds for is monitoring the mangroves in a program called Mangrove Rangers.
“Mangrove Rangers is a program where we monitor eight sites across the Sarasota Bay and Palma Sola Bay areas looking at chances in mangrove habitat due to their vulnerability,” Tyrna said.
For more information on Suncoast Waterkeepers, or to reach out to them for a suggestion on a new testing location, visit their website: www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/contact
