Labor Day weekend: Database shows beach water quality across the Treasure Coast

Labor Day weekend is here. It's a three-day weekend where most Floridians might consider having a beach or boat day.

Before you pack your beach bag, haul your kayak to your car or hop on a boat this weekend, here's what to know about water quality on the Treasure Coast.

Water quality on the Treasure Coast

TCPalm’s exclusive real-time map aggregates the Florida Department of Health’s enteric bacteria ratings for all tested Florida beaches and St. Lucie River sites.

How's the water?: View beach water quality on the Treasure Coast

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This type of bacteria, which inhabits the intestinal tract of people and animals, is an indication of fecal pollution. It may come from the following:

• Stormwater runoff
• Pets
• Wildlife
• Human sewage

Symptoms include upset stomach, diarrhea, eye irritation and skin rashes.

Reservoir discharges begin before Labor Day weekend

• The Army Corps of Engineers began discharging water at a high rate earlier this week from a newly constructed reservoir into the St. Lucie River.
• These discharges could cause issues to waterways like introducing pollutants and reducing salinity in estuaries, according to a Friends of the Everglades news release.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com , 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene .

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Labor Day weekend: Database shows beach water quality across the Treasure Coast