The good news is just in time for summer. Despite occasional sewage spilling into our oceans, the water at LA County Beaches is actually getting cleaner.
The water at 82% of LA County beaches earned A or B grades from April to October of 2011, a 7% improvement from 2010, according to Heal the Bay’s annual Beach Report Card.
The Santa Monica-based environmental group attributed the improvement to less rainfall and new infrastructure improvements to divert bacteria-laden storm water from entering the ocean.
While there were three Malibu beaches that made the "honor roll" of cleanest beaches in Southern California, the city claimed four of the 10 "Beach Bummers," or dirtiest beach in California (see page 10 of report). Other Southern California Beach Bummers include Avalon Harbor Beach on Catalina Island and Topanga Beach.
In better news, check out some of Southern California's cleanest beaches (in no particular order):
Photos courtesy of Alamy: