Water Quality Closures and Advisories For San Diego County Beaches
For the CURRENT STATUS on coastal water closures or advisories in San Diego County, call (619) 338-2073, or link to the Map of San Diego County Coastal water quality.
For Email updates on water quality issues, Sign up for our Email Newsletter.
For the RECENT TREND IN WATER QUALITY for each location based upon monitoring data - Beach Report Card
(These grades do not include the current week's data and do not indicate the current status assigned by the local health department)
General Advisory For All Coastal Waters Due to Rainfall
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.
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.
Permanent Metal Sign | Location:
San Diego County beaches and bays
Sites:
Beaches near outlets for 72 hours following rainfall. See Beaches911.org |
CLOSURES
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.
Temporary Cardboard Sign | For locations under water quality closure status see link to map
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ADVISORIES / WARNINGS
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.
Temporary Cardboard Sign | For locations under water quality advisory status see link to map
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BEACHES WITH URBAN RUNOFF FLOWS
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.
DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
2007
2007 Beach Closure & Advisory Report, Appendix
2006
2006 Beach Closure & Advisory Report Summary
2006 Beach Closure & Advisory Report, Appendix
2005
2005 Beach Closure & Advisory Report Report Summary Page
2005 Beach Closure and Advisory Report, Appendix
2004
2004 Beach Closure and Advisory Report, Appendix
2004 Beach Closure and Advisory Report Summary Page
2003
2003 Beach Closure and Advisory Report, Appendix
2003 Beach Closure and Advisory Report Summary Page
2002
2002 Beach Closure and Advisory Report, Appendix
2002 Beach Closure And Advisory Report Summary Page
2001
2001 Beach Closure and Advisory Report, Appendix
2001 Beach Closure And Advisory Report Summary Page
Ocean Illness Survey Report
Ocean Illness Reporting Form
2000 Beach Closure and Advisory Report Summary Page
Beach Water Quality Information
South County Beach Water Quality Information
Impacts of Rainstorms on Water Quality at Beaches Adjacent to Lagoons
Map of San Diego County Coastal Water Quality
www.sdcdeh.org
For more information on the Beach and Bay Report
direct all inquiries to Clay Clifton
