The water off several Los Angeles County beaches has been contaminated with high levels of bacteria, and people have been advised to avoid beaches in the affected areas.
The L.A. County Department of Health has issued warnings for 12 areas due to high levels of dangerous bacteria being detected in the water. "These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested," the health department said.
Locals and visitors in California are urged not to swim or take part in water-based activities in the areas until clearance is given by the department.
A spokesperson for the department told Newsweek: "Rain and dry weather runoff flushes contaminants and pollution from city streets into storm drains, creeks, and rivers. Contaminants such as trash, fertilizer, and pet waste may increase the levels of harmful microorganisms called 'pathogenic bacteria' in the ocean to potentially unsafe levels.
"These pathogenic bacteria can be present at or near the site where contaminant discharges enter the water. In addition, piers may attract seabirds and ocean mammals that can cause elevated bacteria levels due to increased fecal contamination."
The L.A. County beaches with advisories in place are:
- Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach
- Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
- Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
- Latigo Shore Drive in Malibu
- Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu
- Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
- Malibu Pier in Malibu
- Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
- Puerco Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
- Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach
- Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
- Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach
No beach closures are currently in place, but residents and visitors are advised to stay out of the water until the advisories have cleared. More specific information, including the length of the no-swim areas and exact locations, can be found on the L.A. County public health website.
No-swim warnings are often issued in coastal areas throughout the U.S. due to high levels of the enterococcus bacteria. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans. If waters tests high for enterococci, it means fecal matter is present.
Water bodies can become contaminated through wastewater treatment plant effluent, leaking septic tank systems, stormwater runoff, waste water discharged or dumped from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife waste.
If contracted by a person, enterococci can cause a range of illnesses that can turn serious. More common illnesses caused by enterococci infection include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, wound infections, and infective endocarditis.
More serious illnesses, such as meningitis and intra-abdominal infections, can occur from contracting the bacteria. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, some enterococci strains have "intrinsic resistance" to antibiotics.
A similar situation to L.A. County has been reported in Florida, with several water bodies having warnings in place currently due to enterococci contamination, as Newsweek reported earlier this week.
Update 5/3/24, 10:35 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the L.A. County Department of Health.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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