Weekend beachgoers in California are being warned not to go in the water due to bacterial contamination from a sewage spill.
A spill in Morro Bay on Sunday dumped 7,600 gallons of sewage into the harbor and closed local beaches, health officials said.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department said the cause was a ruptured sewer main at the Morro Bay Inn.
By Monday, the crowds were under control and signs were posted warning people of the danger.
About 350 miles from the coast, several beaches in San Diego County remain closed due to a sewage spill in nearby Tijuana.
The Slough coastline in Tijuana, which stretches north from the U.S.-Mexico border, has been closed since late 2021 due to high bacteria levels, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality.
The department “instructs beach users to avoid contact with ocean and bay waters in closed areas,” according to the website.
Two other areas remain closed due to bacteria levels associated with Tijuana’s sewage runoff: the Silver Strand Shoreline, which will begin closing in May 2024, and the Imperial Beach Shoreline, which will close in December.
The Surfrider Foundation’s Beach Quality Report identified Imperial Beach as the most polluted beach in the country. Bacteria counts in every sample collected exceeded the state’s health standards for recreational water, the report said.
“People are getting sick in our community,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, who has urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a local emergency.
“We cannot continue to shift the blame beyond the border because we are facing a dire situation on American soil, on California soil, and it is harming California voters.”
Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.
