Officials compare bacteria levels in Gulf of Mexico to toilet water
Story/Video @ ABC13.com

Freeport Fire Department sent out an advisory warning of "medium" bacterial levels at Bryan Beach. In Galveston, levels tested even higher. The Galveston County Health District is now advising people to avoid swimming in some beaches altogether because of what's in the water.

For its part, the Galveston County Health District has put up signs and orange flags at 17 out of 52 locations where water samples revealed significantly high levels of bacteria.

Health officials measure bacteria in what are called Colony Forming Units or CFU's per 100ml. Federal standards say that anything over 104 CFU's is dangerous. Along some beaches in Galveston, bacteria levels climbed to more than 140 CFU's.
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