In accordance with State
statutes, individual counties are required to monitor ocean water
at public beaches and water contact sports areas. These samples are analyzed
for bacteriological "indicator" organisms. Elevated concentrations of
indicator organisms are suggestive of contamination by human sewage and
other wastes which may result in human disease. When bacterial indicator
organisms exceed the State guidelines for beaches, the county health departments
take appropriate actions to investigate the cause of contamination and
ensure that the public is safe.
The
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary provides the following links
to each of the county health departments to provide the latest information
about beach postings or closures based on the most recent bacteriological
test information.
