County Warns Against Ocean Water Contact as Heat Wave Builds

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – With many people likely to head to the coast during this week’s heat wave, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned people Monday to avoid ocean waters at several beaches due to high bacteria levels.

The affected beach areas are:

— Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach, near Will Rogers Tower 18, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek;

— Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier;

— Marie Canyon storm drain at Puerco Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain;

— Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek;

— Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon; and

— Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

Health officials said the warnings were issued after recent water samples showed bacteria levels exceeding state health standards, which could increase the risk of illness.

Meanwhile, a warning was lifted for the following beach area where recent sample results identified water quality levels within state standards:

— Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county’s beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-5662. A map of impacted locations and more information can be found at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.