Los Angeles County warns against ocean water contact ahead of heat wave

LOS ANGELES (CNS) — Temperatures are expected to soar amid a regional heat wave Thursday, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning people to avoid ocean waters at several beaches due to high bacteria levels.

The affected beach areas are:

— Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach, near Will Rogers Tower 18, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek;
— Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier;
— Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach, near Santa Monica South Tower 20, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain;
— Mothers Beach in Marina del Rey, entire swim area;
— Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms;
— Pulga storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach, near Will Rogers Tower 5, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain;
— Castlerock storm drain at Topanga County Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain;
— Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the creek; and
— Marie Canyon storm drain at Puerco Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

Health officials said the warnings were issued after recent water samples showed bacteria levels exceeding state health standards, which could increase the risk of illness.

Meanwhile, warnings were lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within state standards:

— Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro; and
— Herondo Street storm drain in Hermosa Beach, near Hermosa Tower TK.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county’s beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-5662. A map of impacted locations and more information can be found at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.