Stay Out of the Water, Health Officials Warn
The county health agency is warning swimmers and surfers to avoid ocean and bay water for at least three days following heavy rains, when bacteria levels can rise.
“It’s a standard advisory,” said Larry Honeybourne, spokesman for the Orange County Health Care Agency. “The level of bacteria in the runoff areas tends to be very high.”
Swimmers particularly should avoid water near discharging storm drains, creeks, rivers and other sources of urban runoff, Honeybourne said.
After a rain, bacteria from animal waste, decomposing vegetation, fertilizer, road oil and litter seeps into the ocean and bays.
“There is a large increase in the microbial level in the storm drain water,” Honeybourne said. “The water that goes down the storm drain doesn’t go through any sort of treatment. Whatever goes down there goes straight into the ocean.”
Similar advisories were issued this week in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
Information: (714) 667-3752.
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