Water Quality Information

County of Santa Cruz Environmental Health Services

 

Current Advisories or Closures: Week of January 23, 2012

WATER QUALITY ADVISORY:

Enterococcus levels are elevated at Cowell Beach and Main Beach.
E. coli levels are elevated at Moore Creek at the mouth and Schwan Lagoon at its mouth.

In general, high bacteria levels may be expected for at least three days following significant rainfall. Especially avoid areas near river mouths and lagoons.

All other beaches tested this week met safe body contact standards.

Click Here to View Latest Water Quality Results.


THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE PERMANENTLY POSTED BY THE COUNTY DUE TO ROUTINELY HIGH BACTERIA LEVELS:

Aptos Creek at Rio del Mar Beach

Porter Gulch Creek at New Brighton Beach

Soquel Creek mouth at Capitola Beach

Schwan Lagoon at Twin Lakes Beach

San Lorenzo River mouth

Neary Lagoon at Cowell Beach

THESE WATER BODIES AND ADJACENT AREAS GENERALLY CONTAIN BACTERIA LEVELS ABOVE SAFE BODY CONTACT STANDARDS AND ARE CONSIDERED UNSAFE FOR BODY CONTACT.

The County of Santa Cruz Environmental Health Service provides water quality information to concerned swimmers to alert them to areas that may be contaminated by fecal indicator bacteria.

You may listen to the latest water quality updates by dialing (831)454-3188 and listening to the menu to find information about fresh water lagoons and ocean beaches. Click here for Recreational Water Quality Monitoring information.

For clarification of methods and interpretation of results please contact Steve Peters at (831)454-5010 or e-mail @ env032@co.santa-cruz.ca.us.

If you believe you may have been exposed to illness through water contact, please fill out an Illness Report.



Other websites for further information:
Visit the Surfrider Water Quality Web Site
Links to Ocean Monitoring in Other Counties
Link to California's Safe to Swim Webportal
Link to California Coastal Beaches Report Card
UCSC Plankton report -- See What's in the Bay This Week