The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is ringing the alarm bells for beachgoers with its latest ocean water use warning impacting numerous popular spots around Los Angeles County. Due to concerns about high bacterial levels, the department advises against swimming, surfing, or playing in the ocean waters at several beaches, including areas adjacent to Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach, Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach, and Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, to name a few.

Visitors at these beaches should be extra cautious and remain out of the water in the affected areas, which span from 100 yards up and down the coast from Santa Monica Canyon Creek as well as around Castlerock Storm Drain, Walnut Creek, and other listed locations, where contamination may pose a risk to human health but, not limited to those areas, the warnings extend to the entire swim areas of several locations including Malibu Pier and Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey according to the official report by the Public Health Department.

Amid safety concerns, there is a silver lining as recent testing has shown improved water quality in other areas. The advisories have been lifted for Topanga Canyon Beach, Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach, and Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach, where water quality levels have returned to meet California's standards, allowing for normal recreational use of these waters once again.

For those planning a day out at the beach or concerned about exposure, L.A. County provides a 24-hour beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-5662, for up-to-date information on beach conditions, meanwhile, the Public Health website is a resource for maps and detailed information regarding the current advisories, ensuring that beachgoers stay informed about the safety of their favorite coastal destinations and the department encourages the public to remain vigilant and check these resources before heading to the surf, which could help in preventing unpleasant experiences or health issues due to water quality concerns.