California Residents Told to Avoid Swimming in Bacteria Warning

The water off several Los Angeles County beaches have been contaminated with high levels of bacteria, although beaches have not actually been closed.

The L.A. County Department of Health has issued warnings for 12 areas due to high levels of dangerous bacteria being detected in the water. “These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested,” the health department said.

Locals and visitors in California are urged not to swim or take part in water-based activities in the areas until clearance is given by the department.

Although the health department has not issued specific reasons for the warnings, no-swim warnings are often issued in coastal areas throughout the U.S. due to high levels of the enterococcus bacteria.

Newsweek contacted the L.A. County Health Department for comment via email outside of normal working hours.

The L.A. County beaches with advisories in place are:

• Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach
• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
• Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach
• Latigo Shore Drive in Malibu
• Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu
• Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
• Malibu Pier in Malibu
• Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
• Puerco Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach
• Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach
• Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
• Sweetwater Canyon Storm Drain at Carbon Canyon Beach

No beach closures are currently in place, but residents and visitors are advised to stay out of the water until the advisories have cleared. More specific information, including the length of the no-swim areas and exact locations, can be found on the L.A. County public health website.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that enterococci are bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts of warm-blooded animals, including humans. If waters tests high for enterococci, it means fecal matter is present.

Water bodies can become contaminated through wastewater treatment plant effluent, leaking septic tank systems, stormwater runoff, waste water discharged or dumped from recreational boats, and domestic animal and wildlife waste.

If contracted by a person, enterococci can cause a range of illnesses that can turn serious. More common illnesses caused by enterococci infection include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, wound infections, and infective endocarditis.

More serious illnesses, such as meningitis and intra-abdominal infections, can occur from contracting the bacteria. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, some enterococci strains have “intrinsic resistance” to antibiotics.

A similar situation to L.A. County has been reported in Florida, with several water bodies having warnings in place currently due to enterococci contamination, as Newsweek reported earlier this week.