Santa Monica Pier named one of California’s most polluted beaches again
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If you’re still making summer vacation plans, you might want to cross some Southern California beaches off your list.
Non-profit environmental group Heal the Bay sorted For the fifth year in a row, the Santa Monica Pier ranks among the Golden State’s dirtiest beaches.
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The beaches on the pier are some of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. The landmark is Pacific Park, an amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier that is “an internationally recognized landmark of Southern California” that attracts more than 9 million visitors each year. reported.
The beaches at Santa Monica Pier attract millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy southern California culture. (Juliana Yamada/Getty Images)
Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card tracks measured amounts of fecal pollution at ocean beaches “from areas near Tijuana, Mexico, to the coast along Washington.”
For the second year in a row, the Santa Monica Pier ranked second on Heal the Bay’s 36th annual “Beach Bums” list, which lists “chronic pollution from urban runoff, bacterial hotspots and aging infrastructure.” Playa Blanca in Tijuana took first place.
Heal the Bay also reported that rainfall, runoff and sewage spills are affecting coastal waters.
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The Santa Monica Pier has been on the Beach Bum list for 15 of the last 21 years, despite efforts to improve water quality.
“In the City of Santa Monica, improvements such as the installation of rainwater harvesting systems and bird deterrent netting have been implemented to reduce pollution,” the Heal the Bay report said. he said.
The beaches at Santa Monica Pier have received a poor rating for bacteria levels over the past few years. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“While many of these improvements are consistent with temporary improvements in water quality, bacterial levels have since increased. These persistent problems highlight the need for continued investment and maintenance to improve the environmental health of the region.”
Storm-affected beaches and areas of chronic pollution remain “significant concerns” at the Santa Monica Pier, the report said. The group also said it has formed a task force with the City of Santa Monica to determine the cause of the Pier pollution “to assist with proposed solutions.”
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Twenty-one California beaches have made it to Heal the Bay’s “Hall of Fame,” which recognizes consistently excellent conditions. Last year, this number dropped to 62. Bluff Cove, Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County has the top spot in the Hall of Fame.
Public health officials have advised people not to swim in the waters at Santa Monica Pier beaches in 2025 due to bacteria levels. (Juliana Yamada/Getty Images)
Fecal contamination is “particularly concerning because even a single exposure can cause illness,” according to Heal the Bay.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports that swimming, diving or walking in water contaminated with fecal bacteria can cause serious infections and illnesses.
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Areas surrounding the Santa Monica Pier were placed under a public health advisory last year due to high levels of bacteria in ocean water, Fox News Digital reported.
In Florida, the Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH Miami-Dade) issued a water quality advisory for Crandon Park North in Key Biscayne because levels of fecal-associated bacteria exceed state-established levels.
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DOH Miami-Dade recommended not doing any water-related activities at the beach “due to the increased risk of illness in swimmers.”
Washington State Department of Ecology recommends People avoid contact with fresh or sea water and pipes or streams flowing directly to the coast for at least 24 hours after heavy rains.
