The County Department of Public Health has posted ocean water use warnings on several popular spots due to elevated bacterial levels. Swimming, surfing, or even splashing about near Santa Monica Pier, the Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach, and the entire swim area at Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey is currently ill-advised. This advisory comes in the wake of testing that pinpointed bacterial quantities that barrel past acceptable health standards.
The department's green light has, however, graced Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, signaling that recent samples there align nicely with the State's strict water quality benchmarks, as notified by the Los Angeles County Department. Lastly, a persistent advisory related to fire impacts stretches from Las Flores State Beach to Santa Monica State Beach, where it's kosher to haunt the sand but wiser to dodge both the visible fire muck and the tainted ocean waters.
Beyond the dipped-in-caution tape along the shorelines, an ocean water advisory remains firmly planted—not a pleasant banner for a state that's a magnet for wave rides and beach culture. "Beach goers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from visible fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory," reads the official health line.
For those angling for real-time updates on this tidal turn of events, the County's advisory hotline at 800-525-5662 is the go-to, hand in hand with the details swimming online at the Environmental Health website. Inquiries are funneled to a contact number at (626) 430-5360.
