High levels of contamination is prompting San Mateo County health officials to warn residents to stay out of bay and ocean water for now.
The areas currently affected include all the bay waters of San Mateo County and all ocean beaches from the San Francisco south to the Santa Cruz County line.
"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," said Scott Morrow, San Mateo County health officer.
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-60s. 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.
San Mateo County has approximately 55 miles of ocean coastline and nearly 20 miles of bay shoreline.
A complete list of beach sites recently tested and found to be contaminated can be found at the San Mateo County Environmental Health Web site: WWW.SMHealth.org/environ and go to hot topics or call the beach closure hotline at 599-1266
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