How safe is it to swim at SLO County beaches? These spots scored high in water quality report
Heading to the beach in San Luis Obispo County? You may be wondering how safe it is to swim in the water.
According to new information by Heal the Bay released Wednesday, several local beach areas have good water quality all year long.
The nonprofit organization compiles water quality data for California beaches and releases an annual beach report card indicating which spots are safe for swimming, surfing and other activities.
Beaches in Avila Beach, Cayucos, Pismo Beach, San Simeon and Morro Bay all scored “A” grades for 2021 and early 2022 in terms of water quality, according to the report card.
To determine grades, Heal the Bay looks at the concentration of “fecal indicator bacteria” found in the ocean at a particular spot. Though the bacteria is not harmful itself, the group said, it points to the presence of other “pathogen-containing fecal matter” that can pose potential acute health risks.
In the case of San Luis Obispo County, the local Environmental Health Services agency surveyed water at a total of 19 areas along the coast. Heal the Bay then analyzed the data to give grades ranging from A-plus to F during the summer and winter months as well as after rainy weather.
Only one beach scored below an “A” rating on the Heal the Bay report card: Olde Port Beach just north of Avila Beach scored a “B” during the winter.
That grade indicates that water quality at the spot declined slightly in the winter, but was still very good and safe for swimming, according to Heal the Bay. The beach received the same grade on the group’s report card measuring water quality in 2020 and early 2021.
The Heal the Bay report card released Wednesday notes that there were seven sewage spills into water bodies in 2021 totaling 2,964 gallons.
“A 520-gallon sewage spill in June (2021) near Palisades Park should have resulted in a public health advisory, but it did not,” the report says.
The San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department is required by law to advise the public of a sewage spill if it’s deemed a health and safety risk.
Heal the Bay’s annual report shows San Luis Obispo County beaches overall scored higher than those in Santa Barbara County, but about on par with beaches in Monterey County.
Overall, 94% of California beaches scored A and B grades during the summer dry period from April to October 2021. For the winter dry period, ranging from November 2021 to March, 88% of California beaches scored A and B grades.
“Wet weather grades for the past year were a little above average with 66% of the beaches receiving A and B grades” from April 2021 through March 2022, Heal the Bay said.
“For all beach users, we recommend using the beach report card to understand your risk of getting sick,” the group said.
