PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- New data is revealing questionable water quality at some of California's beaches. Surfrider Foundation just released their 2023 Clean Water Report .
High levels of bacteria were found at three beaches in California. Linda Mar in Pacifica was one of them. Palo Alto resident Sean Sewell says he surfs here often.
"I guess just a little surprising because the water always looks very clean and always feels super nice," Sewell said. Surfrider's Blue Water Task Force sampled from over 500 sites throughout the U.S.
Mara Dias, Water Quality Senior Manager with Surfrider Foundation said it's about being informed. The report is to build awareness of issues that affect water quality at the beach like storm water or old sewage pipes. "Pet waste you if you don't scoop your poop when you take your dog out, then you know that gets washed down to the water all this stuff, and pollution ends up in the creek and eventually flows down to the beach and that's where we get concerned," Dias said.
MORE: Authorities searching for people seen in viral video dumping trash in ocean The report said the consistently polluted San Pedro Creek could be contributing to high levels of bacteria at Linda Mar. "It's good to know what it's from and hopefully we can do something about it," Sewell said. Is the water safe to swim in? Dias said people need to turn to their local water quality information.
"Don't swim near those storm water outfalls or the creeks, you know, like in the ocean i.
