The waters of San Diego County are stirring up concern rather than the usual surfboards and beach balls after health officials hoisted red flags on several sandy stretches due to perilous pollution levels. A swath of shorelines from the bustling border of Mexico to the picturesque Pacific Beach has been slapped with advisories and closures, turning parts of the Golden State's gilded coast into no-go zones for water waders and wave riders alike.
The hit list of hotspots includes the often-Instagrammed Imperial Beach and Silver Strand, stretching all the way to North Beach in Coronado—popular playgrounds for sun seekers and swimmers, but now marred by a public health hazard; bacteria levels here have soared beyond the safety standards, setting off warning bells and leaving county officials scrambling to shield the public from the tainted surf, according to an announcement by NBC San Diego.
Beachgoers planning to dip their toes or dunk their boards at the famed La Jolla coves or Mission Bay's serene shores are advised to think twice; advisories have surfaced in these areas too, foreshadowing potential health risks lurking in the lapping waves. As reported by SD Beach Info, the serene shoreline at Coronado's Tidelands Park has also been tainted, with soaring bacteria levels since December 1—a notable upset for an area typically awash with recreational activity.
