Report on Bay's Water Upbeat

By MAYRAV SAAR

May 23, 1997 12 AM PT

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the Heal the Bay regional environmental group Thursday released its annual ocean safety report card, warning beach-goers to avoid bacteria-infested swimming holes.

Because of a short, concentrated rainy season, overall water quality in many Santa Monica Bay beaches has improved. Beaches that received “A’s” last year earned “A-pluses” this year.

But many of the beaches deemed unhealthful in previous years did not improve, said Heal the Bay spokesman Mark Gold.

“The news for swimmers this time of year has not been better for a really long time,” Gold said. “Just stay away from flowing storm drains.”

And while you’re at it, stay away from Cabrillo Beach, Santa Monica Pier, and Surfrider Beach in Malibu--all of which received “F” ratings, the group said.

In the seven years that Heal the Bay has monitored the waters, activists have never seen such healthy dry-month ratings: 54 out of 61 locations received an “A” or a “B,” Gold said.

But during this year’s rainy season, when contaminated storm drains spilled into the ocean, more virus-causing bacteria filled the water than the group had seen in four years.

Seven popular spots along Santa Monica Bay were rated unhealthful for swimming during the dry season, and 51 received bad wet-season grades, Gold said.

The group received its data from daily and weekly tests by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the county Sanitation Districts and the city of Los Angeles’ Environmental Monitoring Division.

The report card rates the likelihood of swimmers contracting such illnesses as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and full-body skin rashes, said Heal the Bay spokeswoman Toni Pogue.

Because of the health risks, the group is working to make the public aware of any changes in water conditions. Updated report cards will be faxed monthly to Heal the Bay members, and a report card will be on display at nine dive and surf shops and the UCLA Ocean Discovery Center.

The report cards will highlight how favorite local spots rate monthly.

But no matter how some of the more popular beaches rate, there are many die-hard surfers who would forfeit good health for good waves, said veteran lifeguard Patrick Jones.

“Many times surfers go in despite lifeguards’ warnings, and many times they said they felt as though they got earaches or colds,” said Jones, who combats such problems by rinsing his ears with rubbing alcohol after dipping into unhealthy water. “I think by now they’re aware of the situation, but for convenience sake they don’t want to drive up to Zuma or places like that.”

Unfortunately, Jones said, when water contamination is at its highest, so are the waves.

“With rains comes larger surf, and that attracts the surfer to the beach,” he said. “At the same time as the waves increase, storm drains are also getting an increase in runoff.”

About 2 million people are expected to hit Santa Monica Bay beaches this three-day weekend, Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department officials said.

Jones advises beach-goers who are concerned about contamination to ask lifeguards about daily water conditions.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Bay Watch

Heal the Bay’s report card on area beaches shows dry season ratings have improved. But contaminated storm drains spilled into the ocean during the rainy season, causing more bacteria in the water than had been seen in four years. Sample results:

1. Leo Carrillo Beach

Dry weather grade: A+

Water testing site / Wet weather grade: F

2. Latigo Creek Entrance

Dry weather grade: A+

Water testing site / Wet weather grade: F

3. Malibu Point

Dry weather grade: A

Water testing site / Wet weather grade: F

4. Surfrider Beach

Dry weather grade: F

Water testing site / Wet weather grade: F