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PR-01/04/2008:Bacteria Levels Likely to Rise in Ocean and Bay Waters after Storm

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2008 San Mateo County Health Department Contact: Beverly Thames, (650) 573-3935 Bacteria Levels Likely to Rise in Ocean and Bay Waters after Storm San Mateo County Residents and Visitors Advised to Avoid Contact with the Water REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Winter rainstorms will send large volumes of water cascading down dry hillsides and racing through parched stream beds to the bay and ocean. This natural flushing action is likely to raise bacteria levels to unsafe levels in near-shore ocean and bay waters. San Mateo County Environmental Health strongly advises residents and visitors to avoid swimming in near-shore ocean and bay waters, especially in areas within 300 feet of urban streams, lagoons, river mouths, and storm drain outlets, for at least three days following a major storm. Symptoms associated with swimming in areas with high levels of bacteria include nausea, vomiting, fever, skin rashes, and diarrhea. Every Monday, San Mateo County Environmental Health staff, in partnership with volunteers from Surfrider Foundation, collect samples of beach and creek waters. The County Public Health lab then tests the samples 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. Environmental Health receives test results from the lab by Wednesday morning and posts warning signs at beaches and creeks where bacteria exceed state standards. A list of posted beaches and creeks can be found on the Web at www.smhealth.org/environ/beaches or by calling the beach/creek hotline at (650) 599-1266. For more information on the San Mateo County chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfridersmc.org. ###