San Diego coastlines stretching from North Beach in Coronado to the Tijuana Slough Shoreline face multiple water contact advisories, leading to more beach closures due to rising bacteria levels, according to the San Diego County’s Beach and Bay Program website.
A water contact closure occurs when a sewage or chemical spill impacts ocean or bay waters. According to San Diego County officials, sewage and chemical-contaminated water may contain chemicals or human pathogens that can cause ill health.
The Department of Environmental Health and Quality advised beach users to avoid water contact in the following water closure areas:
— Coronado Shoreline from Avenida Lunar to North Beach
— Silver Strand Shoreline from Carnation to Avenida Lunar
— Imperial Beach Shorelines from the south end of Seacoast Drive to
Carnation Avenue
— Tijuana Slough Shoreline from the U.S./Mexico border, including Border Field State Park and the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge
Water contact advisories warn beach users when ocean or bay water sample results exceed state health standards due to high bacteria levels. Precautionary advisories are issued when the DEHQ determines a potential for elevated bacteria due to dredging, lagoon opening, or other sources near coastal areas.
The DEHQ advised beach users to avoid contact with ocean and bay waters in the following water advisory areas:
— San Diego Bay – Tidelands Park Shoreline
— Ocean Beach – Dog Beach
— Mission Bay – North Cove – Vacation Isle
— Tourmaline Surf Park – Pacific Beach
— La Jolla Cove Beachline and
— Children’s Pool
Beach water quality monitoring uses bacterial indicators to test for possible pathogens. The bacterial indicators are not specific to humans and may be from other sources, including wildlife, pets, soils, and rotting vegetation like kelp.
Ocean or bay waters with elevated bacterial indicators may contain human pathogens that can cause illnesses.