Beach-Goers Warned About Storm Drain Bacteria Risk
County health officials Monday reminded beach-goers to stay away from storm drains during rainy weather because bacterial levels can rise significantly.
The bacteria level in water adjacent to the drains may stay elevated for as long as 72 hours after a storm. Swimmers should stay away from water near discharging storm drains, and beach users should avoid contact with any storm drain discharge on the beach.
Storm drains convey flood waters and urban runoff. During and after a storm, the drain discharges may contain large amounts of bacteria from multiple sources. Sewage is not normally present in the runoff, however, since the sewer system is separate from the storm drain system, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
Laboratory analyses of water samples taken from drain discharge points after storms indicate that such waters can exceed state bacteriological standards.
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