Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Contaminated Water From Mexico Forces Beaches to Close

The weekend rains have driven polluted water from Baja California into the ocean off San Diego County's coast. Health officials are warning people to stay out of the contaminated water from the border

Contaminated Water From Mexico Forces Beaches to Close

The weekend rains have driven polluted water from Baja California into the ocean off San Diego County's coast. Health officials are warning people to stay out of the contaminated water from the border to Coronado. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health issued an ocean-contamination alert from the U.S.-Mexico line to the north end of Coronado. The DEH says runoff tainted with sewage has entered the coastal waters via the Tijuana River over the last several days. Officials say the water is being carried northward by sea currents.

Advertisement

Clay Clifton with the county department of environmental health says the sewage runoff affects A 10-mile stretch of shoreline.

Clifton : This includes Border Field State Park, Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, the Imperial Beach shoreline, Silver Strand State Beach and Coronado municipal beach.

He says signs warning of health hazards will remain in place until at least Thursday. The signs stay up until testing determines that the beaches are safe again for recreational uses.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.