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 With heavy rains forecast, the county Public Health Department issued warnings about harmful bacteria levels at SLO county beacheseven before the rain began to fall. After preliminary water testing results came back Jan. 4, Richard Lichtenfels, supervising environmental health specialist, described the health of local beaches as “pretty dismal.�
The Public Health Department tested the waters at every beach in the county, said Lichtenfels, adding, “With the numbers as they are, I wouldn’t go in until Friday at the earliest.�
Two sewage spills — 80,000 gallons in Pismo Beach and multiple smaller failures in San Luis Obispo — exacerbated the situation. The agency tested for bacteria levels, said Lichtenfels. Other tests for viruses and hazardous materials are too costly to perform, but that doesn’t mean those substances haven’t seeped into the water. “I would expect them to be there as well,� he said.
High bacteria levels can cause respiratory problems, fever, ear infections, diarrhea and other symptoms that mimic the common cold.
There’s no way to gauge how these bacteria levels compare with previous years, because the tests register excessive levels as a failure. “Once it gets to a certain number it just gets a failure.�
A water quality warning is still in effect.
—J.P.