New Report Rates Beach Water Quality

Redondo Beach near Avenue I received a four-star grade from the National Resources Defense Council's latest report.

The recently released report, titled "Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches," assigned a star rating to each beach included. Each star signifies that a beach met a certain standard—dark blue for 2010 water quality, turquoise for water quality over the last three years, green for the frequency of water quality testing, red for promptly issuing advisories, and yellow for posting beach closings and advisories online.

The Avenue I beach did not meet NRDC's water quality standards over a three-year period.

The beach near the Redondo Beach Pier received three stars, while the beaches near Topaz Street jetty and Herondo Street received two stars. Officials promptly issued advisories and posted beach closings and advisories online for all three beaches, and the water quality at the beach near the pier is tested once per week. (See attached .pdf file for more complete data.)

"Beachwater pollution is a preventable public health problem," NRDC staff attorney Noah Garrison told City News Service. "To keep our beaches safe for swimmers and surfers, it's critical that we test for pollution and also stop it at its source. Green infrastructure solutions like planting native vegetation and installing porous pavement allow rain to replenish groundwater supplies or be taken up by plants and trees instead of pollution our beaches."

According to the report, which looked at more than 3,000 beach locations across the country, human and animal waste, rain, boat discharges and sewer spills all contribute to beach pollution. Stormwater runoff is also an issue, as it often carries pollutants from the street into the ocean.

City News Service reported that California Water Resources Control Board Fran Spivy Weber said beach pollution and water quality are the agency's top priorities.

"We agree with NRDC: the next step is to capture as much stormwater as possible close to where it falls and reduce runoff," she said. "The benefits will accrue not only to those who use California's beaches, but the state's water supply and local water self-reliance."

City News Service contributed to this report.