La Jolla's Children's Pool remains under a bacteria advisory warning swimmers to stay out of the water, even as Tijuana River sewage contamination shut down Imperial Beach's shoreline entirely.
The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) listed Children's Pool among five beaches countywide under ongoing advisories as of Sunday, Sept. 27. Bacteria levels in the water exceed state health standards and may cause illness, the agency said. NBC San Diego first reported the Imperial Beach closure.
Children's Pool has carried a daily bacteria advisory since 1997, La Jolla Light reported in August.
The DEHQ on Sept. 27 closed the Imperial Beach shoreline to all human contact after the Tijuana River began flowing into recreational waters. The agency said in a statement that the ocean water contains sewage and may cause illness. Border Field State Park and the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge also remained closed.
No reopening date was announced. The DEHQ said Imperial Beach waters will stay closed until sampling and field observations confirm the areas are safe, Times of San Diego reported.
Other beaches under advisories as of Sept. 27 included Oceanside Pier, San Luis Rey River Outlet in Oceanside, Harbor Beach in Oceanside and North Cove Vacation Isle in Mission Bay.
The water warnings coincide with hazardous ocean conditions. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory running Monday, Sept. 28, through Wednesday, Sept. 30, to account for high tides combining with elevated surf. Swell generated by Hurricanes Polo and Odalys was expected to produce surf of 3 to 5 feet, with sets reaching 6 to 7 feet on south- and southwest-facing beaches, Patch reported.
A high risk of rip currents was expected through Wednesday.
The DEHQ tests for Enterococcus bacteria as an indicator of disease-producing organisms. Contact with contaminated water can cause gastroenteritis, skin infections and respiratory illness, according to the county's Beach and Bay Monitoring Program. The agency also advises beachgoers to avoid water within 75 feet of storm drain outlets.
The most recent confirmed advisory status is from Sept. 27. Residents can check current conditions at sdbeachinfo.com or by calling 619-338-2073.
