Calif. Cities Face Fines for Beach Water

By NOAKI SCHWARTZ

LOS ANGELES – Regional water officials voted Thursday to fine cities surrounding Santa Monica Bay up to $10,000 a day if beaches do not meet clean-water standards.

Conservationists hailed the decision by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board as the strongest regulation to protect beachgoers in the United States.

“I’m very happy for the future of the county and for future generations that can finally look toward clean beaches,” said Tracy Egoscue, executive director of Santa Monica BayKeeper. “This is a trail blazer.”

The ongoing effort to clean up the area’s bacteria pollution stems from a 1999 settlement of a lawsuit filed by environmental groups. Government officials and the groups worked out a schedule to set limits on a variety of pollutants that end up in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. These include bacteria, trash, toxic metals and chemical pollutants.

Although it’s been seven years since the federal consent decree, many of the beaches still aren’t clean.

The 13 cities that encircle Santa Monica Bay were given until this summer to do something about the pollution streaming into the waters. The rule applied to the 44 beaches that stretch from the Los Angeles-Ventura County line to just south of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Most contamination happens during winter when heavy rains overload storm drain and sewage systems, washing waste directly into the sea, officials said. Swimming in such waters can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and other illnesses.