Water quality advisory lifted at Avila Beach

Public health advisories about harmful water quality at Avila Beach and other public beaches in the county have been lifted.

The advisories were issued due to storm water runoff in creeks and rivers into the ocean and a large sewage spill earlier this week that made its way into San Luis Creek and ultimately Avila Beach.

Weekend visitors to Avila Beach can look foward to playing in the surf without concern about harmful levels of bacteria in the water.

“We got our ocean water monitoring results back from yesterday”, says Liberty Amundson with San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Department, “we take a sample and it takes 24 hours to process in the lab, and when we got those results back today they were below the state bacteriological limits so we were able to lift the closure for Avila Beach.”

Tests at other public beaches in San Luis Obispo County also show safe water quality after the recent rains that triggered heavy storm water runoff.

“We always advise the public to avoid water contact three days after a rain event because of wildlife, urban runoff, storm water runoff”, Amundson says, “I would encourage people even when it not raining and stormy weather to avoid any kind of storm water runoff or creek runoff during this time of the year.”

The lifting of the public health advisory at Avila Beach comes in time for what could be a busy weekend with great weather in the forecast at the slowest time of the year for waterfront merchants.

“Yeah today was a great day and sadly we had probably 15 customers”, says Avila Grovery and Deli clerk Jenna McCall.

Beach water quality at county beaches is tested every week with results posted on the Environmental Health Department website, http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/health/publichealth/ehs/beach.htm.