Is The Ocean Too Polluted To Surf? (Los Angeles, San Diego: home, live)

[SiddharthaGautama]

I was reading a post from someone who grew up in Hermosa Beach saying that he recently quit surfing because the water was becoming so polluted. Is this true? If so are there parts of LA you can surf that aren't polluted? Also what are some of peoples favorite surf spots in the area? I've heard Malibu and north of Malibu have some good spots.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by california???

I was reading a post from someone who grew up in Hermosa Beach saying that he recently quit surfing because the water was becoming so polluted. Is this true? If so are there parts of LA you can surf that aren't polluted? Also what are some of peoples favorite surf spots in the area? I've heard Malibu and north of Malibu have some good spots.

This is not a yes or no question. Big rains following extended periods of little rain tend to wash a lot of pollutants into the ocean. Best to avoid the beaches during these times.

I think there is a web site which has health measurements or pollution measurements at certain beaches...not sure.

[stevorilla]

Yes. Surfline.com has charts to track ocean currents. South of Malibu is definitely polluted. I surf in L.A., and I personally have gotten many infections due to the water in the bay. Santa Monica down to Huntington Beach can be pretty polluted. Surfing after a rain can be very dangerous. All the pollution from downtown and the suburbs washes out from the storm drains into the bay. There is a reason why a local surf spot is called the "sh#$ pipe". It's a well known fact that Los Angeles has pumped it's sewage into the ocean for decades. I think they only recently stopped doing this. There is a large sewage line that runs out into the ocean several miles. Real smart!

Go to Heal the Bay for conditions:
Heal the Bay | Beach Report Card | Weekly - CA State Map
The map of L.A. is really funny after a rain. Almost every beach is a toxic waste site. Also, don't forget all the ghetto people going to Santa Monica and popular beaches. They just leave their trash on the beach. It's insane how dirty the water is in L.A.. I've lived in third world countries, and it's pretty much the same problem.

Enjoy the waves! They are dirty but consistent in L.A..

[sponger42]

Malibu is actually one of the most polluted spots thanks to the Malibu lagoon being wastewater from a sewage treatment plant up Malibu Canyon. Also, all the local homeowners just dump their sewage into the ocean because they don't want to pay for city sewage. There's a nice hidden beach you can walk along and enjoy the sound of the black PVC sewage pipes from the clifftop mansions banging against the granite cliffs.

Most surfers in SoCal deal with chronic ear and sinus problems due to exposure to the polluted water.

[greggd]

I'm in the ocean 5-6 times a week. No bacteria related health problems.

Most of the beaches in the County receive favorable ratings from heal the bay during dry weeks. The times to avoid exposure are after rainstorms. If you want to be diligent, avoid beaches that have a lagoon or heavy city runoff. The comment about S&it Pipe is a bit misleading. The name given is not because of the quality of water, but because there is an old pipe that creates a ridable break when the tide and swell is right.

Malibu and Topanga Canyon have runoff that includes sewage leaks from old septic tanks and overflows from treatment plants. I believe the major source of waste in Topanga was recently identified and corrected. It was a restaurant up in Topanga canyon. Several of the old shacks near the base of Topanga have been vacated as well. Malibu had a major contributor which was an unpermitted private golf course, which is now in compliance and monitored.

Malibu in general is another story, where septic tanks are used instead of modern sewage lines to a treatment plant. However, the sewage is supposed to be treated via a septic tank. Malibu annexed from the City of Los Angeles but is unable to provide basic modern services and its residents unwilling to fund such a modernization.

Also, I seriously doubt that raw sewage is pumped directly from a cliffside home down onto the beach. more likely it's treated water or water from landscape runoff.

I would suspect most of the people becoming ill are due to different sources such as sinus issues, poor water drainage from the nostrils that lead to buildup of bacteria you had anyways. Sticking your finger in your eye, nose, mouth, or on your food without washing your hands. Using a restroom and not washing your hands. Most people don't wash their hands, including women. Most restaurant & food preparation employees come to work no matter how sick they are.
Those are some of the major sources of illness.. not the ocean.

[kidcanaduh]

Did you know that there is a patch of garbage floating in the ocean and "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch" is the size of Texas?

OceanGybe: A Global Research & Outreach Expedition to Protect the World's Oceans. - Welcome to OceanGybe.com

[SiddharthaGautama]

[quote=stevorilla;2402847]Yes. Surfline.com has charts to track ocean currents. South of Malibu is definitely polluted. I surf in L.A., and I personally have gotten many infections due to the water in the bay. Santa Monica down to Huntington Beach can be pretty polluted. Surfing after a rain can be very dangerous. All the pollution from downtown and the suburbs washes out from the storm drains into the bay. There is a reason why a local surf spot is called the "sh#$ pipe". It's a well known fact that Los Angeles has pumped it's sewage into the ocean for decades. I think they only recently stopped doing this. There is a large sewage line that runs out into the ocean several miles. Real smart!


That is ridiculous, doesn't the city have laws against this or are they just not enforced? So basically there isn't a place to surf in LA that isn't polluted? Is it just LA thats polluted? What about San Diego and up north of LA?

[greggd]

[quote=california???;2408231]

Originally Posted by stevorilla

Yes. Surfline.com has charts to track ocean currents. South of Malibu is definitely polluted. I surf in L.A., and I personally have gotten many infections due to the water in the bay. Santa Monica down to Huntington Beach can be pretty polluted. Surfing after a rain can be very dangerous. All the pollution from downtown and the suburbs washes out from the storm drains into the bay. There is a reason why a local surf spot is called the "sh#$ pipe". It's a well known fact that Los Angeles has pumped it's sewage into the ocean for decades. I think they only recently stopped doing this. There is a large sewage line that runs out into the ocean several miles. Real smart!


That is ridiculous, doesn't the city have laws against this or are they just not enforced? So basically there isn't a place to surf in LA that isn't polluted? Is it just LA thats polluted? What about San Diego and up north of LA?

Yes there is no place to surf in Los Angeles. Anywhere you go, anytime, you will immediately have to visit the doctor for antibiotics.

Your best bet is to find a water park, wave pool in the mid west somewhere or try vegas, mandalay bay. They have a wave pool. Take your longboard and a fullsuit.

[CHATTY CATHY]

Originally Posted by Charles

This is not a yes or no question. Big rains following extended periods of little rain tend to wash a lot of pollutants into the ocean. Best to avoid the beaches during these times.

I think there is a web site which has health measurements or pollution measurements at certain beaches...not sure.

I am sure Heal the Bay has a regular report card for our southern cal beaches.

In the early 90's my brainiac brother went out after a storm off scattergood in ElSegundo and ended up less than 24 hours later in the hospital (for a week ) in and out of ICU with pneumonia. He had a 50,000 dollar RX bill untill they finally found a combo antibiotic that would treat him. He nearly missed being on a respirator had they not found that (antibiotic) cocktail to treat the mysterious bacteria.
Oh yea, they said probobly surfing after a storm not such a good idea. duh.

I'd hop in the surf at El Porto after a run on the strand and always felt like I had to take a shower afterwards. Water shouldn't "stick" to you ya know .
El Porto is probobly still too close to scattergood now that I think about it.

I'd say anywhere in that bay is not good.
Down south is supposed to be better then of course there is the nuke waste matter ...

[greggd]

Originally Posted by CHATTY CATHY

I am sure Heal the Bay has a regular report card for our southern cal beaches.

I'd hop in the surf at El Porto after a run on the strand and always felt like I had to take a shower afterwards. Water shouldn't "stick" to you ya know .
El Porto is probobly still too close to scattergood now that I think about it.

I'd say anywhere in that bay is not good.
Down south is supposed to be better then of course there is the nuke waste matter ...

Well, I think maybe something else was sticking to you....

Manhattan Beach water quality grades at 40th Street (el porto)

Date Dry Wet Notes
12/19/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 12/18/2007.
12/11/2007 A+ ns
12/4/2007 A+ ns
11/28/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 11/27/2007.
11/19/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 11/13/2007.
11/13/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 11/6/2007.
11/5/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 10/30/2007.
10/29/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 10/23/2007.
10/23/2007 A+ A+
10/17/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 10/16/2007.
10/10/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 10/2/2007.
10/3/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 10/2/2007.
9/25/2007 A+ A+
9/15/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 9/11/2007.
9/10/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 9/4/2007.
9/4/2007 A+ ns
8/24/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 8/21/2007.
8/21/2007 A+ ns
8/14/2007 A+ ns
8/4/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 7/31/2007.
7/31/2007 A+ ns
7/24/2007 A+ ns
7/14/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 7/10/2007.
7/10/2007 A+ ns
7/3/2007 A+ ns
6/26/2007 A+ ns
6/19/2007 A+ ns
6/11/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 6/5/2007.
6/5/2007 A+ ns
5/30/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 5/29/2007.
5/22/2007 A+ ns
5/15/2007 A+ ns
5/8/2007 A+ ns
5/1/2007 A+ ns
4/24/2007 A+ ns
4/17/2007 A+ ns
4/11/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 4/10/2007.
3/27/2007 A+ ns
3/21/2007 A+ ns Grade based on 30 day period ending 3/20/2007.
3/14/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 3/13/2007.
3/5/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 2/27/2007.
2/28/2007 A+ A+ Grade based on 30 day period ending 2/27/2007.
2/20/2007 A+ A+
2/13/2007 A+ A+
2/6/2007 A+ A+
1/30/2007 A+ A+
1/23/2007 A+ ns
1/16/2007 A+ A+
1/9/2007 A+ A+
1/2/2007 A+ A+

Source: healthebay org