Pollution is causing too many "no swimming" days at California beaches, according to a new report. The study found a near-record high for bacterial contamination, despite less natural run-off into the ocean due to drought, with the worst water quality at Avalon and Venice State Beaches. Hamlet Paoletti with the Natural Resources Defense Council says better building and development designs could help preserve or restore natural water "filters" to stop contamination from running into the ocean.
"Don't pave and cover every single area, let the areas where the rain and liquids and percolate into the ground."
Laguna Beach got a "beach buddy" nod for very few contamination days. Nationwide, the number of beach closings and warnings set a new record.
Paoletti adds that bacteria isn't the only problem with ocean water quality. He wants Californians to think more about what goes into storm drains - which eventually empty into the ocean.
"The excess goes into the drain system which ends up at the beach - so when you're going to swim, you're going to swim with your fertilizer and your oil change."
The full report is at www.youroceans.org.
