Before you round up the family & the water toys and head to the beach, why not call 619-338-2073 or go to this handy website www.earth911.org where the “Beach Water Quality” section displays the current status assigned to beaches, by the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health (D.E.H.).
The D.E.H. is the local agency responsible for the protection of public health in recreational waters. They use water sampling and laboratory bacterial monitoring data to ensure that beach areas water quality meets state standards for recreational use. More info.
D.E.H. updates the web page and the phone report Monday through Friday. The phone report is also updated on holidays and weekends. The current status is based upon bacterial monitoring data, any reports of sewage spills to ocean or bay waters, rainfall amounts and urban runoff flows, and other information such as ocean current direction or excavation of coastal lagoon outlets.
103 or more beach water samples are collected weekly between April 1 and October 31. Over 40 samples are collected weekly between November 1 and March 31.
The status of Open, Advisory, or Closed is shown to inform beach goers of the relative risk of illness from water contact.
Open (Green): D.E.H. reviews the results of shoreline bacterial monitoring. Results for the sample must have been collected within the last seven days to show a green or Open status. The results are available 24 to 72 hours after collection and processing at the laboratory.
At the end of a 72- hour General Advisory, the status will be ‘No data available’ (clear) until sampling confirms bacterial levels are within state standards and the flag will change to green. )
Advisory (Yellow) during dry weather: If the D.E.H. receives results with bacteria levels that exceed (violate) one or more state standards, the temporary Advisory signs will be posted and the station flag will change to yellow at that beach. Beachgoers can visit and enjoy the beach, but should avoid contact with ocean waters where signs are posted. Contact with ocean water under an Advisory can cause illness. Problem areas are frequently in front of or adjacent to river, lagoon or storm drain outlets. As a general rule avoid ocean or bay waters within 75 feet from where runoff from a coastal outlet (storm drain, river, or lagoon outlet) enters ocean waters during dry weather. Most of these locations are posted with permanent metal advisory signs.
General Advisory (Yellow) during wet weather: The D.E.H. will issue a press release to the media with a 72 hour General Advisory for all coastal waters due to contamination by urban runoff following rain. The General Advisory is issued before test results are in 24 to 72 hours after samples are collected. (Regional and local studies have documented widespread contamination of coastal waters by urban runoff following significant rainfall (usually greater than 0.2″). For the regional study, see the So Cal Bight 1998 Study at www.sccwrp.org. For a local study, see ‘Impacts of rain storms on water quality at beaches adjacent to lagoons’ at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh ‘beach & bay water quality’.)
Due to limited resources (personnel and signs) temporary signs are NOT posted for the 72 -hour General Advisory along our 52 miles of coastline.
Closed (Red): Closure signs will be posted when sewage spills or contaminated runoff water poses the greater health. Contact with sewage contaminated ocean water increases one’s chance of acquiring illnesses such as respiratory illness, skin rashes, eye infections sinus and ear infections and gastro-intestinal illness. Continual Sampling is conducted to determine when the signs can be removed. Closures due to sewage contamination are always posted, regardless of whether a General Advisory is in effect or not.
A clear flag: will be displayed at locations that do not have any sample results within the last seven days.
Exposure?:
Rinse off entire body well with soap and water, especially any abrasions on the skin. Use a germ killing mouthwash to gargle and spit it out. Use a drop of isopropyl alcohol on a q-tip, swab then dry out your ears (carefully of course).
See www.beachagent.com for more information on water quality
