Funding for Beach Water Monitoring Program to Continue

New County Budget to Include Funding That Was Cut by State

SAN DIEGO – A program to monitor the water quality at local beaches that was threatened by the state’s budget crisis will continue to operate next year, Supervisor Greg Cox announced today.

“With the weather heating up and beach season upon us, we’re excited to let San Diegans know that they won’t have to worry about going back into the water,” said Cox, who represents several coastal cities in the region.

Money for the program was cut by the state two years ago and Cox led a regional effort involving coastal cities and environmental groups to secure temporary funding from various sources. Current funding is scheduled to run out Oct. 31. But today, a budget change letter added $128,000 to the fiscal 2011-’12 County budget to keep the program going. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to adopt that budget August 2nd.

“This is a critical program that helps protect public health and maintain our beachgoing way of life in San Diego and we needed to keep it going, “ Cox said. “Surfers and swimmers have come to rely on our beach water monitoring program, and so has San Diego’s thriving tourism industry.”

The program is mandated by the state if the program is fundedr and has been operated since 1999 by the County Department of Environmental Health (DEH). Approximately 85 samples are taken and analyzed each week from beaches and bays along San Diego’s coastline. DEH issues alerts and advisories to warn the public and the media about water quality. The alerts and advisories provide warnings about elevated bacteria levels, sewage spills, or urban runoff. For the latest beach water quality information call (619)338-2073 or online @ www.sdbeachinfo.com.