Heal the Bay issues water-quality warning
By Daily Press staff
SM BEACH — Local environmentalists on Thursday issued this warning: Stay out of the water.
Jumping into the Pacific might be tempting in the coming days as a sizable northwest swell is expected to approach the coast on Monday, but doing so could keep you out of commission for weeks with a host of illnesses.
After days of torrential rains in Southern California, Santa Monica-based Heal the Bay, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water quality for people and marine life, is warning beach goers to stay out of the ocean for at least one week.
“When heavy rains begin to saturate the ground, extreme amounts of runoff flow directly into the ocean, greatly increasing the public’s risk of infection,” said Dr. Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay. “There’s also a good chance of sewage leaking into storm drains and into the ocean. We encourage people to stay out of the water for one week after the rainstorms stop to avoid coming down with the stomach flu, respiratory infections and skin rashes.”
Heal the Bay provides an online Beach Report Card with weekly water quality grades for more than 430 California beaches. For more information on beach conditions and closures, visit healthe-bay.org.
For 20 years, Heal the Bay has been dedicated to making Southern California waters safer and healthier for people and marine life. As one of the largest nonprofit environmental organizations in Los Angeles County, with more than 10,000 members, Heal the Bay reaches many area neighborhoods through volunteer programs, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and events such as Coastal Cleanup Day. The organization, funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships and member donations, promotes environmental stewardship by educating communities and individuals about ways to transform their neighborhoods and improve their local water quality.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 25, 2005. Read the original PDF.