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Florida Department of Health analyzing water tests from St. Petersburg

Posted at 6:54 PM, Sep 22, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-22 18:54:21-04

Small businesses in St. Petersburg that depend on the water are losing money by the day after an estimated 150 gallons of sewage dumped into the bay during Hurricane Hermine. 

Governor Rick Scott recently requested Florida's Department of Health to take addition testing at several locations.

Small business owner Captain Fred D said the results won't matter because people are already gone -- including the dolphins for his dolphin charter. 

"We use to see 12-15 dolphins, yesterday we saw one."

The department of health took water samples from: Northshore Beach, Lassing Park and Spa Beach, as well as other creeks and canals. 

The city of St. Petersburg is actually responsible for conducting testing in the immediate areas of a sewage spill, according to a DOH press release. 

A spokeswoman for the department said by email that the state has conducted all their sampling and are still analyzing the results. 

Mara Gambineri said if an advisory is needed, they will issue one. 

Captain D, is across from Spa Beach, where he use to run up to five charters a day, now he barely runs one a day. 

"Yesterday I only had four people," he said. 

Captain D said he doesn't think city leaders realize the impact on small businesses, "if the mayor, if this is such clean water and its testing great, why don't he bring his family and go for a swim out here?"