Unsafe Surf

They used to be as reliable as mushrooms after a forest rain. Still, there's a good likelihood that after our recent storms, we'll soon see signs sprout along Venice Beach warning us that the surf is unsafe for swimming.

Why?

Jim McDaniel, the Senior Assistant General Manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's water system explained to me that in L.A. the drainage system is designed to flush water out to sea as quickly as possible. Very little is retained. The reason is L.A.'s historic propensity for flooding.

Rains wash the streets and clean the sewers depositing all the run off onto our shore, in Venice primarily at the Brooks Avenue drain, the Windward Avenue outfall and just north of the Marina Channel at Topsail.

According to environmental organization Heal the Bay, sea water quality in Venice Beach is consistently very good, with most of the local bacteria problems this summer centered around Windward Ave. 

LADWP is planning to capture more storm water for ground water replenishment but until it does, heed the signs on the beach and avoid swimming or surfing immediately after a storm.