Californians have been warned to avoid several beaches as an approaching storm threatens to spread bacterial contamination, following the accidental leak of 80,000 tones of sewage off the state’s coast.
Major rainfall is set to deluge Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties from Thursday, bringing with it an increased chance of water pollution.
Officials warned that the rain could also transport hazards like fallen trees and other debris, causing injuries.
New forecasts for severe flooding are signaling imminent danger for Californians still recovering from devastating wildfires across the Los Angeles area.
Up to six inches of rain is set to soak southern California, leading to the closure of many beaches and warnings being issued at others.
‘There is a potential for stormwater runoff to carry disease-causing bacteria to the beaches and into the ocean water,’ the Ventura County Resource Management Agency said.
It comes after beaches in the area were closed last week due to a massive 80,000 ton sewage leak from an an Oxnard wastewater treatment plant.
Port Hueneme Beach Park and Ormond Beach in Oxnard were both closed down due to concerns that the sewage had entered the water, though they have since reopened.
California officials have shut down dozens of beaches in the state due to a bacterial contamination risk from an approaching storm
On Wednesday, the Resource Management Agency warned beachgoers at Promenade Park Beach at Figueroa Street in Ventura and Channel Island Harbor Beach Park’s Kiddie Beach in Oxnard to avoid the water.
Other beaches in the Golden State have also only recently reopened following damage from the wildfires.
Fire advisories have now been replaced with flash flood warnings which could spell further misery for locals.
AccuWeather’s Ariella Scalese warned that heavy rains moving in Wednesday night and continuing into Friday may bring up to eight inches of rain to mountain regions of the state.
The major West Coast storm is reportedly ‘packing a plume of moisture’ that is developing into an ‘atmospheric river’ set to flood California’s coastal cities.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has since advised beach users to, ‘avoid all water contact, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers due to potentially higher bacteria levels in these areas‘.
The advisory will be in effect at least until 11:00 am Monday.
‘Beach goers may recreate on the sand but continue to be advised to stay away from fire debris and to stay out of the ocean water during any posted ocean advisory,’ the notice states.
The Long Beach Bureau of Environmental Health also issued a rain advisory for the city’s seven miles of beach.
Other beaches in the Golden State have also only recently reopened following damage from the wildfires
The Ventura Resource Management Agency warned beachgoers at Channel Island Harbor Beach Park’s Kiddie Beach in Oxnard to avoid the water
It stated that the warning will be in effect until 72 hours after the rainfall ends.
In central and southern San Diego, several beaches remain under advisories due to high levels of bacteria including La Jolla Cove and Coronado Shoreline.
Shorelines at Imperial Beach and Coronado’s Silver Straind remain closed, while a stretch from San Diego Bay to Point Loma was shuttered on Wednesday morning after a Navy jet crashed nearby.
The ocean shoreline near Tijuana was closed in December 2021 due to cross-boundary contamination and remains closed.
