How Clean Is The Water?

The Legal Level of Bacteria Before the Beach is Posted is 104

Test date: October 24, 2006

Time of test: 7 a.m.

Conditions: Non-rain

Beach	Bacteria Level	Beach	Bacteria Level
Anita	0*	Mountain	0*
Bluebird	20	Pearl	0*
Brooks	0*	Rockpile	0*
Crescent Bay	0*	Salt Creek	0*
Cress	0*	Sleepy Hollow	0*
Emerald Bay	41	Thalia	0*
Jasmine	41	Three Arch Bay--Middle	20
Main	0*	Woods Cove	10
Moss	0*

0* represents an undetectable enterococcus bacteria level of less than 10.

DID YOU KNOW: Polluted runoff causes high and unsafe bacteria levels at the beach during rain events. The County may not test or post warning signs at beaches during these periods. For your health and safety, stay out of the water for 3 days after the rain stops.

Storm Drain	Bacteria Level	Storm Drain	Bacteria Level
Aliso—Runoff	10	Oak-Runoff	0*
Main—Runoff	0*	Three Arch Bay-Runoff	884

WHAT PARENTS DON’T KNOW: Shallow waters leading to the ocean are often runoff waters from storm drains, as shown above. These areas, like the shallow area at Aliso Creek, look like great places for small children to play. These waters can be highly contaminated and should not be considered safe places to swim.

These tests were conducted by the students in the Laguna Beach High School Surfrider Club.

Winner of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2006 Environmental Achievement Award