LARGO - Water quality samples taken on McKay Creek on Monday night indicated that bacteria levels were still elevated from a sewage spill the county discovered Saturday evening, said Pinellas County Utilities spokesman David Baker. Officials continued to ask residents to refrain from wading, fishing and swimming in McKay Creek and the Intracoastal Waterway near there until notified that the water is safe. Caution signs remain posted around the affected areas. A temporary bypass has been installed around the broken section of the pipe so that tanker trunks will no longer transport the sewage from the area. Additional water samples were gathered Wednesday, and test results should return by noon today. Meanwhile, county health officials advised people not to swim along the Courtney Campbell Parkway beach until more water testing is completed Friday. Warning signs were posted at several places on the beach last week after officials found high levels of bacteria, said Mike Flanery, director of engineering for the Pinellas County Health Department. Test results from water samples should be announced Friday afternoon, Flanery said. For information, contact Pinellas County Utilities customer service at 464-4000.
