Water Quality Closures and Advisories
Map of sampling locations of beaches in San Diego County
For the CURRENT STATUS on coastal water closures or advisories in San Diego County, call (619) 338-2073, download the Beach and Bay Podcast, or read below.
Please note: Webpage and Podcast will not be updated during weekends and holidays. During weekends and holidays, please call phone hotline (619) 338-2073 for possible updates.
Click here to download the daily Beach and Bay Podcast
Updated - July 2nd - 8 AM
A water contact Closure is issued anytime a reported sewage spill impacts or may impact ocean or bay recreational waters. Sewage contaminated water may contain human pathogens that can cause illnesses. The Department of Environmental Health advises beach users avoid contact with ocean and bay waters in the closure area and where closure signs are posted.
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A water contact Advisory/ Warning is issued when monitoring reveals ocean or bay water quality does not meet State standards due to high bacterial levels, or during the excavation of a coastal outlet (river or lagoon) when potentially contaminated water is released into the ocean. Beach water quality monitoring uses bacterial indicators to test for possible fecal contamination. 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 levels may contain human pathogens that can cause illnesses.
The Department of Environmental Health advises beach users to avoid contact with ocean and bay waters where advisory/ warning signs are posted. Signs are usually posted 50 yards (150 feet) either side of a sampling location where water quality does not meet State standards.
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A General Advisory is issued after 0.2” or more rainfall to alert the public of ocean and bay water contamination by urban runoff. Bacterial levels can increase significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near all storm drain, river, and lagoon outlets, during and after rainstorms. Elevated bacterial levels may continue for a period of up to 3 days depending upon the intensity of rainfall and volume of runoff. Waters contaminated by urban runoff may contain human pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or protozoa) that can cause illnesses
The Department of Environmental Health advises beach users to avoid contact with ocean and bay waters for a period of 3 days, or 72 hours, after rainfall ends.
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- No rain advisories are in effect at this time.
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While many coastal outlets (storm drains, rivers, and lagoons) within San Diego County are permanently posted with white metal warning signs, additional temporary warning signs are not posted during General Advisories
DURING DRY WEATHER:
As a precaution, avoid contact with runoff and recreational waters within 75 feet from where runoff enters ocean or bay waters during dry weather.
Shellfish Quarantine.
There is quarantine on mussel consumption due to risk of PSP or domoic acid poisoning for mussels taken from all coastal waters in California. For more information on the shellfish quarantine call 800-553-4133.
Contact your local lifeguard service for hazards associated with large surf and rip currents
For more information on the Beach and Bay Report
direct all inquiries to Ewan Moffat
