Santa Barbara County Issues General Rain Advisory For Local Beaches

Due to the recent rainfall, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services wants to remind residents about potential health risks  associated with storm water runoff at countywide beaches. Storm water is untreated rainwater  that flows through the drain system into creeks, the ocean, and other waterways.

Contact with  storm water while swimming or surfing may increase the risk for certain types of illnesses  such as rashes, fever, chills, ear infections, vomiting, and diarrhea. Also, due to increased  creek flows, debris such as logs may be present in the ocean and other waterways posing an  increased risk of injury to anyone entering these waters. 

To minimize potential health and safety risks, it is recommended that people do not swim,  play or surf in the ocean and creeks during and for at least three days following a rain event. 

Beachgoers should also avoid areas near the outfall from drainpipes and creeks that enter  the ocean following a rain event as storm water runoff may carry high levels of bacteria and  pollutants.

Due to the annual sport-harvested mussel quarantine (normally May 1 – October 31),  recreational/sport-harvesting of mussels should not occur. Recreational/sport-harvesters  should wait at least 10 days after significant rain to harvest other shellfish.

High bacterial  levels, pesticide, herbicide and motor oil grease flushed into the ocean with the storm runoff  may impact shellfish beds. Adequate cooking of shellfish will destroy harmful bacteria but may not be effective in killing viruses. In addition, cooking does not eliminate chemical and  metal pollutants in shellfish.