Los Angeles County beachgoers are being hit with a wave of warnings against ocean water use. The Department of Public Health issued alerts for several popular beaches across the county, advising residents to avoid swimming, surfing, or splashing around in areas where bacterial levels have soared past health standards, as reported by the County of Los Angeles, California.

Tourists and locals planning to soak up the sun need to think twice before jumping into the Pacific at hotspots like Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove and Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach—official advice is to steer clear of the entire swim areas. Even more locations, including the swim zone at Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and at Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, are under the water use warning, as per the County of Los Angeles, California. In some spots, like Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, a hundred-yard radius around public conveniences is to be strictly dodged to avoid potential exposure to contaminated water.

According to the County of Los Angeles, California, the bacteria levels were found to be too high during the last tests conducted, prompting the public health warnings. Beachgoers are left to only speculate, not dip their toes in the waters of potential illness. A 24-hour beach closure hotline is available for those seeking up-to-the-minute updates on the condition of the waters they were once free to fully enjoy.