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San Diego County shapes plan for water-quality testing at coast

Posted by: Maven on March 18, 2009 at 11:11 pm

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

County officials have crafted a plan to partially restore a high-profile coastal water monitoring program for the peak beach-going season that officially starts April 1.

The proposal targets popular beaches that have exceeded state standards for bacterial contamination on past tests. The 18 suggested locations for sampling stretch from the Trestles surf spot in North County to Tidelands Park in Coronado. Data gathered from those spots would supplement tests taken by wastewater agencies for other sites.

“This will be a scaled-back program compared to what (the county) has done in the past. However, our experts tell us our monitoring will not compromise public health,” Luis Monteagudo Jr., a spokesman for Supervisor Greg Cox, said in an e-mail message Wednesday.

Cox’s strategy could cost the county up to $150,000 per fiscal year. Monteagudo said the money would eventually be repaid by the state.

Ben McCue, a clean-water advocate for the environmental group Wildcoast in Imperial Beach, praised the county’s efforts to continue warning swimmers and surfers about contamination. “It’s a great thing,” he said. “We can be a little bit more secure about beach water quality.”

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.

March 18, 2009 · Filed Under Oceans & Beaches

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