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PR-12/29/2004: San Mateo County Beach Warning

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 29, 2004 San Mateo County Health Department Contact: Dean Peterson, (650) 363-4968 SAN MATEO COUNTY BEACH WARNING San Mateo County Health Services issued an advisory today about bay and ocean beaches. The areas currently affected include all the bay waters and ocean beaches of San Mateo County. San Mateo County has approximately 55 miles of ocean coastline and nearly 20 miles of bay shoreline. Working with the volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation, Environmental Health staff have been sampling numerous sites for bacterial contamination along both the ocean and bay since the mid 1960's. The water is tested for total and fecal coliforms. Coliforms are a group of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. When they are found in water they indicate the potential presence of many organisms known to cause disease in humans. The following locations are current closures due to reported sewer overflows: Pacifica State Beach at Linda Mar, Surfers Beach near the southern Pillar Point break water, Moss Beach access to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, the area adjacent to Mirada Road in Half Moon Bay, and Colma Creek and the bay at its mouth in South San Francisco. A complete list of beach sites recently tested and found to be contaminated can be found at  earth911.org or call the beach closure hotline at 650-599-1266 Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County Health Officer, said: "I recommend that people avoid all ocean and bay recreational water contact at this time. The water is highly contaminated and likely to cause illness. Anyone becoming ill after contact with these waters should consult their physician." ###