Sunbathers can bask and surfers can ride once more now that county health officials have reopened portions of Goleta Beach.
On May 13, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued a “beach closed” notice in response to a spill of approximately 800 gallons of untreated sewage at the west end of the Goleta Beach parking lot. A portion of the untreated sewage flowed directly into the ocean, officials said.
The beach was closed to prevent the public from contracting certain illnesses from contact with sewage-contaminated water.
Ocean water samples collected by Environmental Health Services later that day met all state water quality standards. Closure signs were removed, and the beach was re-opened for water recreation.
Still, the Health Department recommends people wait until at least 10 days before harvesting shellfish in the affected area.
For more information about water testing, visit the Health Department website at sbcphd.org/ehs.
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This article appears in May 20-27, 2010.
