Eight SoCal beaches placed under high bacteria warning

Melissa Hernandez
·1 min read
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MALIBU, CA - APRIL 05: Brown pelicans glide around a paddle boarder north of Malibu Pier at Malibu "Surfrider" Beach - part of Malibu Lagoon State Beach on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 in Malibu, CA. It's 70 degrees here today while a heat advisory will be in effect in parts of Los Angeles County from 11 a.m. Wednesday until 6 p.m. Friday, with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
Malibu Point at Surfrider Beach near Malibu Tower 3 is among Southern California beaches under advisories for high levels of bacteria in the water. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health placed eight Southern California beaches under advisories for high levels of bacteria in water.

The beaches were flagged because recent water samples determined that bacteria levels exceed state standards and may cause illness, according to the department's website.

The eight affected beaches:

  • Malibu Point at Surfrider Beach near Malibu Tower 3

  • Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

  • Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey

  • 40th Street extension in Manhattan Beach

  • Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach

  • Hermosa Beach Pier in Hermosa Beach

  • Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach

  • Redondo Beach at Sapphire Street

It's not clear why there's been an elevated presence of bacteria in beach waters, county health officials said, but runoff from recent rainstorms is a possible culprit. Health officials advise swimmers to stay out of large bodies of water, including the ocean, for at least three days after a storm.

Earlier this month, parts of Torrance Beach and Redondo Beach were closed to the public after more than 5,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Malaga Creek. The beaches were reopened Tuesday after water samples found the bacteria levels had returned to normal.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.