If you’ve been to San Diego for a beach vacation, you likely know checking water conditions near the Mexico border is about as typical as starting your day with a coffee in hand.
What’s not typical is feeling the need to check for hazards as far north as Cardiff, one of my favorite local seaside towns for a quiet break from city life.
As a San Diegan for the past 10 years or so, I can attest this isn’t normal for advisories to spread so far away from Tijuana’s seemingly nonstop sewage spewage — and it’s getting worse.
With the July 4th weekend around the corner and a sweltering heatwave sweeping the nation, if they haven’t melted into mush this week, residents from neighboring Nevada and Arizona will surely be flocking our roadways in hopes of scoring a spot at San Diego’s beautiful (and now bacteria-filled) shores this week.
ABC 10 News San Diego reported 10 beaches in total now have new advisories (not including Imperial Beach, which basically has year-round “do not swim” warnings).
San Diego’s selling point may be fun in the sun, but I wouldn’t want to be a member of their PR team right about now…
The Coast Isn’t Clear!
It’s a common joke among San Diegans that our city is expensive because we pay a “sunshine tax”. Really, it’s a light-hearted jab to make ourselves feel better about where out money is going.
On the flip side, many of us are left wondering who is stuffing their pockets as you would think locals and tourists alike would love to enjoy our beautiful waters without a wetsuit.
In case you’re unaware, the City of San Diego is facing a head-scratching deficit, causing parking prices to jump and proposing public bathrooms to close, and even city-run lakes are facing reduced hours of availability.
Laugh if you want about the odd proposal of closing bathrooms, but it’s a serious issue at hand.
Especially since the new “no camping” law to deter homelessness hasn’t be enforced since there are quite literally impromptu encampments outside of “safe sites” — not exactly the best optics for a struggling city.
It’s Not All Tijuana’s Fault
In their own words, ABC 10 News reports “San Diego County clarified that beach management advisories are based on testing that confirms the presence of fecal indicator bacteria”, and the finger is almost always pointed at Tijuana.
Though, San Diego might want you to turn a blind eye on the fact the city has had their own bouts of sewage malfunctions in recent years, including one in our famed slice of paradise La Jolla just two weeks ago, prompting beach closures.
If you thought the seals smell bad, shoo-wee! It seems like the City is what smells fishy…
For a renowned vacation spot that’s struggling financially, tourism would surely be a boost, but it sounds like a majority of tourists will be disappointed having to decide if they want to risk swimming in contaminated waters.
Which Beaches Are Affected?
For what it’s worth, the bacteria hazards aren’t stopping everyone. As one local was quoted as saying by ABC 10, “Honestly, it’s like OB or at the river—you get those advisories once every other week. It doesn’t really stop us”.
This goes for myself too. I’ve braved the doo-doo water of Imperial Beach and made it out unscathed. Though, you might question if it affected my mental accuity since I just said “doo-doo water’ on a well-respected travel publication.
While it’s certainly not advised to swim, each time I’ve rebelled against an off-limits sign, it didn’t stink. Though, I have heard whispers of odors beyond the usual stench of La Jolla’s seals.
But, if you buy into a study we reported on 2 years ago, we’re all breathing in airborne poo particles anyway, so you have to ask yourself if jumping in the waters is any worse than simply relaxing on the beach here.
These are the 10 new beach advisories issued by the County of San Diego’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality:
- La Jolla Cove Beachline
- Children’s Pool
- Ocean Beach (Dog Beach included)
- Cardiff State Beach in Encinitas (both the San Elijo Lagoon Outlet and Chartouse Parking Lot area)
- Silver Strand Shoreline
- Mission Bay (both South Crown Point and Santa Clara Cove)
- Tourmaline Surf Park
- Del Mar
Trendy & Affordable: My Favorite Beach Alternative
If the pattern holds true through summer, it seems like the further north you go the better to avoid the flow of bacteria.
That’s why I believe Oceanside should you be on your radar. O’side, as locals call it, is the northernmost beach town of San Diego County.
It’s actually closer to Orange County’s San Clemente than it is San Diego proper. We reported on Oceanside’s newfound hype as it’s undergone quite a glow-up from its former reputation as San Diego’s redneck riviera with more noticeable trailer parks than nice beach hotels.
That’s mostly changed with trendy restaurants overtaking the downtown drag, flashy resorts like The Seabird garnering attention, and the affordability factor as O’side was recently crowned California’s most affordable beach destination.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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