The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Water quality samples are tested for the presence of enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste in the water. Elevated levels of enterococcus increase the likelihood that other pathogens that can make people sick may be present.
This report provides an analysis of water test results for ten sites that were monitored from November 2021 to March 2022. Our water quality results indicate that sampling sites associated with a storm drain had the highest percentage of samples exceeding state health standards. Higher pollution at these sites may be attributed to land-base urban runoff running through these drains. Furthermore, nearly all high bacteria counts were obtained during months when Ventura County received rain (December and March).
CLICK HERE to view the report. (Updated 8/9/22)