According to a new report by the Surfrider Foundation, California is home to three of the most polluted beaches in the country. They tested thousands of water samples across the nation, and the findings are quite concerning.
Another accomplishment Gov. Gavin Newsom can add to his resume.
Let’s start with the worst offender—Imperial Beach in San Diego. Every single sample from this beach exceeded the state’s health standards for recreational waters. Why, you ask? Toxic untreated water from the Tijuana River Watershed has been flowing into the Pacific Ocean, reaching Imperial Beach. As a result, the beach has been closed for over two years. Local Mayor Paloma Aguirre has even urged Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. She shared her frustration with the LA Times, stating, “People in my community are getting sick left and right.”
The pollution is not just affecting the environment but also the health of the residents. Shannon Johnson, who has lived near the beach since 2010, mentioned that she and her kids avoid the beach entirely now. “Every time we go by the beach, they’re asking, ‘Is it going to be clean? When are they going to fix it?’” she told CBS. Despite over 700 days of beach closures, the pollution’s effects persist, with residents reporting health issues and foul smells.
A study by San Diego State University found that not only is the water contaminated, but heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and bacteria are being released into the air and soil. Residents are understandably more frustrated than ever. One person described the smell as “akin to being trapped in a portable toilet,” which is so strong it wakes them up at night.
Imperial Beach isn’t alone in this crisis. Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica and the mouth of the San Luis Obispo Creek in San Luis Obispo are also heavily polluted. At Linda Mar Beach, more than half the samples had unsafe bacteria levels, and at San Luis Obispo Creek, 35 percent of samples were high in bacteria.
Mara Dias, the foundation’s senior manager for the Clean Water Initiative, highlighted the common causes of this pollution: urban runoff, sewage infrastructure issues, and pet waste. She emphasized the importance of avoiding ocean waters for 72 hours after it rains and paying attention to pollution advisories.
The message is clear: while California’s beaches might look inviting, they could pose serious health risks.
Long gone are the pristine California beaches we used to see in the movies.
