Water Quality Report, March 6

Water quality at most beaches in San Diego County is safe for recreational use.  However, signs warning of contaminated water are posted at the following locations. 

Closures:  These beaches are closed to water contact due to sewage spills that may impact recreational waters.  

Border Field State Park and Tijuana Slough Nat’l Wildlife Refuge.
Station:  The ocean shoreline from the U.S. / Mexico border to the south end of Seacoast Dr.  
Status Since: January 30.   
Reason:  Residual sewage contaminated runoff from the Tijuana Estuary.
       
Advisories:  Water contact should be avoided at the following beaches due to bacterial levels that exceed health standards:

Oceanside
Station:  San Luis Rey River outlet/ south jetty, to 300’ south
Status Since: Feb 16   
Reason:  bacterial levels exceed health standards
Bacteria indicator      Total coli      Fecal Coli/ 
E. coli Entero  Fecal/ Total ratio     
SSM                     Y              
Geomean                                

Station:  Buccaneer Beach at Loma Alta Creek outlet, 200’ N & S.
Status Since: Feb 16   
Reason:  bacterial levels exceed health standards
Bacteria indicator      Total coli      Fecal Coli/ 
E. coli Entero  Fecal/ Total ratio     
SSM                     Y       Y      
Geomean                                

La Jolla
Station:  Children’s Pool
Status Since: Sept 1997        
Reason:  On-going contamination by harbor seals

Mission Bay, east
Station:  Visitor’s Cntr beach, to 300’ S of the storm drain
Status Since: March 3  
Reason:  precautionary – high bacterial levels in Cudahy Creek outlet

SSM –most recent sample exceeds single sample max
BOLD – Exceeds by 1 magnitude.  [Y >104 entero, Y >1040]
30 day Geomean standard – uses data from 5 or more samples

For beaches next to storm drains, rivers, and lagoon outlets:
During dry weather avoid contact with runoff and recreational waters within at least 75 feet from where runoff enters ocean or bay waters. An epidemiological study has correlated urban runoff to an increased risk of illness among ocean users near these outlets.

To see a map of monitoring stations and locations under warning for water contact, log on to www.earth911.org and select ‘Beach Water Quality’.    Call the DEH Beach & Bay Water Quality hotline at 619-338-2073 for updated information, or log onto the DEH web site at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/lwq/beachbay. 

Re-opened:  Field measurements indicate these waters are now safe for recreational use.  Signs have been removed at the following locations: 

Imperial Beach. Since March 5

For more information log in www.earth911.org
or call DEH beach water quality phone HOTLINE number: (619) 338-2073