SLO County Health Officials Say Pismo Beach Water Safe to Swim in Once Again
LATEST UPDATE
PISMO BEACH, Calif. – San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health officials told KCOY 12’s Amanda Valdes that water testing concluded Tuesday afternoon, and the results revealed that bacteria levels are back to normal.
Health officials say the water is safe for beachgoers.
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ORIGINAL STORY
A sign at the Pismo Beach Pier warns swimmers and beachgoers to not get into the water. San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health officials say there are levels higher than normal of fecal bacteria currently in the water.
Officials say they test the water 14 yards south of the pier to make sure that bacteria levels are not elevated.
However, when those results came back this time they showed levels of fecal bacteria around the pier to be higher than normal.
“It’s kind of shocking because you see all these kids and parents, all these parents letting kids go into the water knowing there’s an advisory,” says Benny Vega.
Vega and his wife are in town visiting. He says after seeing the advisory he won’t let his kids get into the water.
“Now that I am aware of it a lot more I wouldn’t let my kids go in there,” he says.
Officials say signs like this have been posted since last week.
They say it’s normal to find some bacteria in the water, just not levels that exceed a certain point.
They say levels like this can be caused by birds and pigeons who fly in the area and make their homes there.
For other visitors like Joseph Kennedy he says the advisory is not stopping him from getting in the water with his kids.
“We are going about our day we were in the water yesterday and we’ll be here for another hour swimming,” he says.
Health officials say swimmers should avoid areas around the pier and should go out 50 yards south and north to swim.
For beach goers who are concerned they can go online to see if any advisories are posted or call the Water Quality Hotline at 805-788-3411.
Officials say they have tested the water once again and results should be back later today. Officials will let swimmers know if it’s safe to go back into the water at that point.
