Officials still advise avoiding bodies of water at Mother’s Beach and near Santa Monica Pier

The Los Angeles County Health Department continues to advise visitors to Mother’s Beach in Marina Del Rey and Santa Monica Pier to avoid the water due to the high levels of bacteria.

© (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Officials advise against swimming near the Santa Monica Pier upstairs and at Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The recommendation comes almost a month after 17 million gallons of raw sewage was discharged into Santa Monica Bay from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del Rey.

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The county hasn’t ruled out a link between the July 11 emergency layoff and the rise in bacteria, but officials say a link is “unlikely” given the currents and the time since the incident.

The warnings were recently lifted for Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Malibu Lagoon on Surfrider Beach, Bel-Air Bay Club on Will Rogers State Beach, and Avalon Beach on Catalina Island, where water quality tests meet state standards.

However, the warnings for Mother’s Beach and Santa Monica Pier remain, with the county warning against swimming, surfing, or playing in the ocean to drain gutters, creeks, and rivers.

The district’s health authorities are now testing the nearby waters daily instead of weekly. Information on beach conditions is available through the Department of Health’s 24-hour beach closures line (800) 525-5662 or on their website.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

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