Beachgoers in California have been warned to avoid going into the water in certain areas because of high bacteria levels.
A news release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) published on Tuesday advised people to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in the ocean in affected places.
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The DPH said that the warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested. The areas listed included 100 yards up and down the coast from both Malibu Pier and Santa Monica Pier.
People were also advised to avoid the same length of distance around Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State beach, Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach, and Trancas Creek at Zuma Beach.
The entire swim areas of Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey and Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach were listed too.
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No beach closures have been announced at this time.
A spokesperson for Los Angeles County DPH told Newsweek in an email statement: "Rain 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 spokesperson added that the the warning signs will remain in effect until tests indicate that bacteria levels meet state bacteriological ocean water quality standards.
A warning about the ocean waters was first sent out on June 14 and updated on June 18 to include two more areas.
An interactive map shared by the DPH allows users to check the current water quality status of specific beaches.
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Ocean water samples are collected regularly to test for total coliform, E. coli and enterococcus bacteria.
Having contact with water with high levels of bacteria may cause illness, LA County's DPH said.
If a person contracts enterococcus bacteria, it can cause urinary tract infections, bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), wound infections, and infective endocarditis (an infection of parts of heart). In some more extreme cases, meningitis and infections of the abdominal cavity can develop after contracting the bacteria.
Californians are periodically warned to avoid particular beaches due to bacterial contamination, which often takes place when pollutants enter the ocean from nearby streets and mountain areas due to rain or dry weather runoff.
Contamination can occur 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.
Beach users are advised to generally avoid water contact near flowing creeks and storm drains, per the DPH.
The state has implemented numerous measures over the years to improve water quality, including advanced stormwater treatment systems and public awareness campaigns.
Update 6/21/24, 8:59 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the Los Angeles County DPH.
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