Update 2024-11-22: Cleaner Withlacoochee River 2024-11-21.
We have asked for their Friday and Monday results, and we will post them when we get them.
![[Madison Health Lifts Withlacoochee River Health Advisory 2024-10-20]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-20--madison-doh-lifts-advisory/igmany.jpg)
Madison Health Lifts Withlacoochee River Health Advisory 2024-10-20
November 20, 2024
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Madison, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Madison County (DOH-Madison) is lifting the advisory for high bacterial levels in the Withlacoochee River.
Tests completed on Continue reading
Update 2024-11-14: Bad Withlacoochee River, Sugar Creek, One Mile Branch and Alapaha River 2024-11-13.
I don’t know why it took them a week to do this.
November 13, 2024
Florida
HEALTH
Contact:
Lisa Hayes
Lisa.Hayes@flhealth.gov
850-879-0683
Madison, Fla.— The Florida Department of Health in Madison County (DOH-Madison) has issued a health advisory to residents and visitors near the Withlacoochee River in North Florida due to a wastewater overflow in the City of Valdosta, Georgia, that resulted in E.coli levels exceeding the 235 MPN/100ml threshold. It is recommended that residents and visitors avoid coming in contact with the impacted water, such as swimming or fishing.
DOH-Madison, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Suwannee River Water Management District are working together to assess and closely monitor the situation. As these assessments continue, we will provide updates to the public.
DOH plans to conduct sampling and testing this week along the Withlacoochee River.
Until further information is known regarding possible bacterial contamination of the river, residents and visitors in the area are urged to take precautions when in contact with the Withlacoochee River.
Water contaminated with elevated fecal bacteria presents several health risks to humans. Microbes normally found with fecal bacteria could cause gastrointestinal issues and other conditions.
Anyone who comes in contact with the river water should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking. Children and older adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to disease, so every precaution should be taken if in contact with the river water.
For more information about the potential health effects of wastewater overflow, contact DOH- Madison at 850-973-5000 or visit Madison.FloridaHealth.gov.
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![[DOH-Madison Health Advisory Near Withlacoochee River 2024-11-13 due to a wastewater overflow in the City of Valdosta, Georgia]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2024-11-13--doh-madison-health-advisory/many.jpg)