How is the water quality monitored in San Diego Bay?
Assembly Bill 411 (AB 411) was passed in 1997 and requires the testing of public beaches and the notification of the public when high levels of bacteria are discovered. The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) presently tests the San Diego Bay beaches on a weekly basis from April 1 – October 31. Beach closure information is provided for all eight of the San Diego Bay beach locations and is updated weekly after every DEH sampling event. Typical monitoring process may occur as follows: 1. Trained staff collect water samples in sterile bottles according to specific guidelines. 2. Sampling staff wade into the surf zone and collect water using a long pole with a sample bottle attached to the end 3. The sample bottles are immediately capped and placed into an ice chest for preservation. 4. The time, date, weather conditions, and location of collection are recorded on a log sheet. 5, State health care agencies review the results of these tests, and if the data indicate a
