Ocean Pollution

I am a surfer from the South Bay. Recently, while I was sitting in the lineup at Torrance Beach I began to smell an obnoxious odor. It had rained the night before, but I thought nothing of it. I soon forgot about the smell because the conditions were good. I saw that there were better conditions farther down the beach, so I walked down to check it out. While walking the smell grew stronger. I neared a concrete drainpipe and saw it spewing out garbage and raw sewage into the ocean. I looked farther out and saw my unknowing friends surfing.

Not only was sludge gushing out, but plastic cups, bags and cans were also floating around. I walked back down the beach toward my car and I almost tripped over three dead rats that had washed up. That whole day I never even saw a sign posted giving warning. When I got to the public shower I felt like I could not clean myself enough.

DOUG AITKEN

Palos Verdes Estates