Beach Water Quality - Topics and Links

Regulations:

• California Department of Health Services: California Beaches - Regulations and Guidance

Legislation:

1. AB411 (Wayne and Shelley, 1997-1998)  Beach sanitation: 
   Requires local health officers to test waters adjacent to public beaches within their jurisdiction and to take related action in the event of a known sewage release. The bill also requires the local health officer to post conspicuous warning signs and establish a telephone hotline to inform the public about a beach that fails to meet standards developed by the Department of Health Services as required in the bill. Implementation must begin by 1/1/99. 
   
   
2. AB538 (Wayne, 1999-2000)  Public beaches: bacteriological standards. 
   Directs the State Water Resources Control Board to develop protocols for identifying sources of contamination where bacteriological standards have been repeatedly exceeded at heavily visited beaches. 
   
   
3. AB1946 (Wayne, 1999-2000) Public Beaches: survey. 
   This bill requires local health officers to submit a monthly survey to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) detailing information on beach postings and closures due to failure to meet bacteriological standards. Requires SWRCB to establish a specific format for the surveys, make the information available to the public on a monthly basis, and publish an annual statewide report. 
   Reports on beach closures and posting, and other related information is available here.