LA County warns against water contact at nine beach areas after bacteria tests

Nine Los Angeles County beach areas were under the latest warning

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health advised people to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean water at nine listed beach areas after recent samples showed bacteria above state health standards. The county issued the update Friday, September 4. At publication time Sunday, it remained the newest beach-water release on the department’s 2026 advisory list. That does not make the list permanent: sample results and posted boundaries can change, so anyone planning an ocean workout should check the county map, hotline and signs again before entering the water.

The warning is local, down to a 100-yard zone in most places

In Santa Monica, the county listed the Wilshire Boulevard storm drain and East Wilshire Boulevard storm drain near North Tower 12, plus Santa Monica Pier; each warning covers 100 yards up and down the coast from the named feature. In the South Bay, the same 100-yard boundary applies at Torrance Beach near Malaga Cove north of RAT Tower, Redondo Beach at Sapphire Street and Redondo Beach Pier. The Malibu-area list includes Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove for 100 yards on either side of Paradise Cove Pier and the entire swim area at Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach. Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro is also listed for its entire swim area.

A bacteria warning is not the same notice as a sewage closure

The September 4 release labels these locations as beach-area warnings based on samples that exceeded health standards; it does not describe a sewage spill or announce that every stretch of each named beach is closed. California’s State Water Resources Control Board explains that a local agency posts an advisory when testing exceeds ocean water-contact standards, while a closure is generally issued when a sewage spill reaches or may reach coastal water. Follow the exact boundary on the current notice and any on-site sign. Do not use normal-looking water, the absence of odor or activity elsewhere on the beach as a substitute for testing.

Two areas were cleared, but that result cannot clear another location

The county’s September 4 update lifted earlier warnings at Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove and at Avalon Beach on Catalina Island west of the pier after newer samples met state standards. Those clearances apply only to the places named. They do not cancel the separate warning at Ramirez Creek near Paradise Cove Pier or establish conditions at an unlisted access point. The practical rule is to match the beach, landmark and distance in the latest official update rather than relying on a screenshot, a general beach name or another swimmer’s report.

Check the live status before driving—and again at the water

Los Angeles County maintains a beach-condition map and a recorded 24-hour hotline at 1-800-525-5662. Check one of those sources on the morning of the visit, then look for posted notices at the actual entry point. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises checking whether a natural swim area is monitored, under advisory or closed; avoiding water near discharge pipes; keeping out with an open cut or wound; and not swallowing recreational water. If the listed zone is part of a planned swim or surf session, move the workout to a confirmed open area or choose a land-based session instead of guessing beyond the marked boundary.

After contact, use symptoms—not anxiety—to decide the next step

Exposure does not mean a person will become ill. The Environmental Protection Agency says polluted recreational water can be associated with stomach illness and infections involving the ears, eyes, nose, throat, skin or wounds. Anyone who feels unwell after water contact should tell a healthcare professional where and when the exposure occurred, particularly if symptoms are severe, persistent or worsening or if an open wound was exposed. Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency. Massage, sauna, supplements or a hard workout do not remove an infection risk or replace medical assessment. NOCTI provides educational local wellness news and helps readers discover independent providers; it does not diagnose illness or certify beach conditions.

Sources

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: Ocean Water Use Warning for Los Angeles County Beaches (September 4, 2026) ↗
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: current beach water-quality map and hotline ↗
• California State Water Resources Control Board: beach advisories, postings and closures ↗
• CDC: How to safely visit oceans, lakes and rivers ↗
• U.S. EPA: What affects human health at the beach ↗