San Diego's beaches were cleaner last year, but environmentalists say there were still too many pollution postings. The Natural Resources Defense Council's 16th annual "Testing the Waters" report reveals that Mission Bay and Imperial Beach had some of the dirtiest beaches in the county. NRDC spokesman David Beckman says polluted urban runoff and sewage spills continue to threaten human health.
Beckman: "They reveal, um, each day we have an advisory or a closure an increased risk, of illness for people who are swimming in the water. Many of whom may not even be aware that they are exposing themselves to that risk."
In California, the number of pollution postings topped 5,000, an increase of about 25 percent. Meanwhile, NRDC officials are suing the Environmental Protection Agency. They say the EPA failed to develop congressionally mandated standards and tests to protect beach goers.
