Tropical Storm Hilary is clearing out, the region is drying out and sunny summer beach weather will soon returned — but be warned, it’s wise to stay clear of the ocean water for a while.
Trash and bacteria were washed by the storm’s rain down waterways, sidewalks and through storm drains to litter Southern California beaches and pollute ocean water near the shore.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an Ocean Water Quality Rain Advisory, as did the Orange County Health Care Agency, put in place following significant rainfall that may cause bacteria levels in ocean waters to increase.
“Elevated bacteria levels in ocean water may cause illness, especially in children and the elderly,” Los Angeles County officials warned.
“We did have a big flush and it is always advisable to stay out of the water for 48 to 72 hours, just because of the rise in bacterial levels,” said KC Fockler, Surfrider Foundation North OC chapter education program coordinator. “That’s what we’re concerned about now, besides all the trash.”
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Some areas also suffered severe erosion from the storm’s battering of the shore, making steep dropoffs that can be a beach hazard. At Balboa Pier, the parking lot was flooded, limiting spots available for beachgoers.
Seal Beach’s River Jetty area sand was littered with trash by Monday morning and Doheny Beach’s San Juan Creek had been breached open, sending bacteria and bird poop flushing into the sea.
South Bay Boardrider member Derek Levy said a handful of volunteers set out to area beaches to help clean up debris early Monday morning after the storm cleared.
While winter time typically gets a seasonal “first flush,” it’s been months since a heavy downfall in the region, so trash stuck in gutters and tossed on streets travels with the storm water.
Fockler said that water quality tests typically take 24 hours to come back with…
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