San Diego County officials say several popular recreation areas in Mission Bay will remain closed today because of high bacterial levels in the water. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce has more.
The County Department of Environmental Health says several boating and swimming areas around Mission Bay are closed for a third day because of bacterial health hazards from the sewage.
Mark McPherson is the department's chief of land and water quality.
McPherson: Sewage has the ability to have a lot of pathogens - things that can make people very sick.
He says a sanitation system or septic tank is the likely source.
Officials don't know who dumped the raw sewage in the bay.
McPherson says the closures won't change today's start of the unlimited hydroplane races on Mission Bay.
McPherson: The race organizers are keeping people out of the water anyway. It's not safe for them to be in the water while you've got the boats running. We've talked to the race organizers and they're going to have water available to wash off their equipment and their boats if they need to.
He says test results will determine when the closed areas can be reopened.
Ed Joyce, KPBS News.