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The results are in: Some of the best and worst beaches are in SoCal
A sign at Santa Monica Pier urging beachgoers to avoid the water due to high bacteria levels
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Lucy Jaffee
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LAist
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SoCal, once again, didn’t do so great on Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card. While most beaches are safe to swim in summer, two in L.A. County were among the top ten most polluted in the state based on bacteria levels.
Heal the Bay, an environmental non-profit focused on water health, released their 34th annual report Wednesday, ranking beaches across the state. The 2024 report focused on the impact of climate change on ocean water quality.
Beaches received a letter grade A through F based on the amount of harmful bacteria detected in the water by Heal the Bay. Health officials have said coming into contact with unhealthy ocean water can make you sick.
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Beach bummer
Santa Monica Pier and Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey received F’s this year on Heal the Bay’s annual report card. The two popular spots for beachgoers have struggled with pollution.
Santa Monica Pier ranked third most polluted beach despite new stormwater capture systems and efforts to prevent bird poop from entering the water. The report noted that the pier’s urban location could create challenges for keeping the ocean healthy.
Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey took the ninth most polluted spot. The shore is tucked slightly inland near the Ballona Creek Jetty which could make it difficult for water to circulate and trap stubborn pollution in the area, according to the report.
Problems with pollution
The organization blamed higher than average rainfall, aging infrastructure for the overall decline in water quality across Southern California.
“In places like Los Angeles where nearly every square inch is covered by concrete or asphalt, more rain means dirtier beaches,” president and CEO of Heal the Bay, Tracy Quinn, told LAist.
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Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn announces the 2023-2024 Beach Report Card at Santa Monica Pier.
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Lucy Jaffee
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LAist
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Rainwater is easily polluted by natural watersheds, and Quinn said that it can easily pick up debris like oil or waste as it travels to the ocean through storm drains.
Stormwater is now the number one source of pollution in SoCal’s ocean water, according to the report.
Old pipes need repairs
Nearly one-third of the city’s pipelines are over 90-years-old, according to sanitation officials and, Quinn said,the overwhelming amount of rain can lead to sewage spills.
A storm earlier this year was to blame for an 8 million gallon sewage spill that leaked into the Dominguez Channel, the Compton Creek, and in the city of Commerce. Officials said the spill had nothing to do with a collapse or lack of maintenance, and rather an overflow of rainwater.
Meanwhile, the biggest water treatment plant in the area, Hyperion in southwest LA , hasn’t been upgraded in nearly four decades.
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In May, LA City Council voted to raise taxpayer rates in order to fund system improvements, which Heal the Bay supports.
Some good news
Orange County took the cake this year, with eight of the safest beaches, and County Line Beach in Ventura County also earned high marks.
The “A+” ranking given to these locations are given to beaches with healthy water levels every week for the entire year.
What’s helped these beaches keep straight A’s is open space, Annelisa Moe, Associate Director of Science & Policy, Water Quality at Heal the Bay told LAist.
She explained that there is space in Orange County, unlike LA, for storm drains to capture rain immediately. This prevents rainwater from flowing down dirty rooftops and streets where they can easily pick up bacteria and deliver it to oceans.
How to stay safe
For information on what beaches in L.A. County are safe, you can refer to the Department of Public Health’s Beach Water Quality Advisories. It contains information on current beach closures and refers to Heal the Bay’s Beach Report Card for updated, weekly grades.
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Orange County beach closures and warning information are available at the county’s Health Care Agency page, OCBeachInfo.
A "thank you" to visitors from Santa Monica Pier.
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Lucy Jaffee
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LAist
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As a general rule, swimmers should avoid storm drains and other pipes where runoff is most potent. You should also pay attention to any signage posted by the county that warns of high pollution levels.
It’s also advised to remain out of the water for at least 72 hours after it rains.
“A day at the beach should never make anyone sick,” Quinn said.
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