Water Quality Advisory Issued; Beach Closed Near Tijuana River

By Michelle Mowad

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) issued a General Advisory Thursday for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. 

A water contact closure for the ocean shoreline south of Seacoast Drive to the U.S.-Mexico border was also announced Thursday morning due to sewage-contaminated flows from the Tijuana River, according to Kevin Spence with the DEH.

"Typically sometimes it can be closed through the wet season," he said. 

The stretch of shoreline was closed earlier this year for more than five months until mid-May.

Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff. Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria from a variety of sources such as animal waste, soil, and decomposing vegetation.

While many coastal storm drains within San Diego County are permanently posted with white metal warning signs, additional temporary warning signs are not posted for general advisories such as this one.

Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided in all coastal waters for 72 hours following heavy rain. This includes all coastal beaches and all of Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. The last recorded rain was Wednesday, Oct. 9, according to the county.

Elevated bacteria levels can persist after a rainstorm depending upon the intensity of the storm, volume of runoff and ocean and current conditions.