High Levels Of Fecal Bacteria Found Near Popular Spring Break Beaches

College students that are planning to hit the beach in Texas may want to reconsider spending spring break relaxing in the sand. According to NBC DFW, a number of popular beaches where found to have high levels of fecal bacteria. 

Texas Beach Watch found multiple sites with moderate to high levels of bacteria. The website uses water samples from the Texas General Land Office and is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The samples show a very high level of Enterococcus (fecal) bacteria focused in the water around Freeport, Galveston Island, and Corpus Christi Bay. The Merced Sun-Star reports that 13 sites along the Gulf Coast of Texas "exceed acceptable EPA standards for Enterococcus bacteria levels in the water."

The beaches will not be closed, but signs will be posted advising beachgoers to avoid swimming in the water. 

Exposure to the bacteria can cause nausea, diarrhea, ear infections, headaches, fever, and rashes.

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