Health

When Is It Safe To Surf?

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Another spring storm is here, and while the rain is generally seen as a good thing for our arid region, it also one of the factors that can lead to unhealthy swimming and surfing conditions at our local beaches and bays.

When it rains, oil and debris from our roadways, fertilizer and pesticides from our yards, and even animal wastes wash into the storm drains and ultimately into our waterways.

Accidental sewage spills can also contaminate our beaches and bays. The sewage can spill into a stream or lagoon and ultimately flow to the ocean. The Tijuana River is one of the more common sources of sewage pollution.

The County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) monitors our beaches and bays for water quality and then posts signs telling people if, or when, they should stay out of the water.

The department’s Land and Water Quality Division regularly tests water samples from numerous locations. If the tests show unhealthy levels of bacteria, signs are posted to let people know that contact with the water at this beach poses a health risk. DEH also issues advisories immediately following any rainfall of .2 inches or greater that explain that storm drain water carrying pollutants have flowed to the ocean and will make most beaches unhealthy places to swim or surf for the next 72 hours.

When it rains, water from the Tijuana River can increase substantially and carry raw sewage into the river estuary and ultimately the ocean. DEH will then close the South County beaches that are affected.

Besides water sampling, DEH uses an advanced system in the South Bay that monitors ocean current velocity and direction. Armed with the information showing whether the contaminated water is flowing north or south with the current, DEH can take preemptive action.

For example, during the first part of April, beaches south of the Tijuana River estuary had already been closed for a month as a result of previous rains and sewage-contaminated flows. However, when currents started to change on April 10, DEH officials anticipated a health hazard and closed the beaches northward – well before a plume appeared and before contamination was found in the north-side water tests.

“Our waterways from the beaches to the bays represent an important part of our lifestyle in San Diego, as well as making a major contribution to our local economy,” said Mark McPherson, chief of the DEH Land and Water Division. “We want to ensure the water is safe, and let the public know when it is not.”

To find the current status of beach postings, go to sdbeachinfo.com. Or call the hotline at 619-338- 2073.