Beach water warnings ahead of Fourth of July holiday due to elevated bacteria levels

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- With Fourth of July crowds expected to flock to Los Angeles County beaches this holiday weekend, health officials on Friday warned beachgoers to avoid entering the ocean at several locations because of elevated bacteria levels that could increase the risk of illness.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued ocean water warnings for the following locations:

• Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

• Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey, entire swim area.

• Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, entire swim area.

• Castlerock storm drain at Topanga County Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

• Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

Health officials said the warnings were issued after recent water samples showed bacteria levels exceeding state health standards, which could increase the risk of illness.

Meanwhile, a warning was lifted for Bel Air Bay Club storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach after recent testing found water quality had returned to state standards.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24 hours a day on the county's beach closure hotline, 1-800-525-5662. A map of impacted locations and additional information are available at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach.

In Orange County, the OC Health Care Agency's Environmental Health Division has closed one quarter mile upcoast to one quarter mile downcoast of Anita Street at Thalia Beach in the City of Laguna Beach. Approximately 2,000 gallons of sewage spill was caused by a malfunction of a force main sewer line pump.

The affected ocean water area will remain closed to ocean water contact sports for a minimum of three days and until the results of follow-up water quality monitoring meet acceptable standards, officials said.

For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay, or harbor postings and closures, call (714) 433-6400 or visit www.OCBeachinfo.com. Call (714) 433-6419 to report a sewage spill.