L.A. County Beaches Saw Improved Water Quality This Summer

By City News Service

Los Angeles County beachgoers enjoyed improved ocean water quality this summer, with the majority of area beaches scoring A or B grades in an end-of-summer report card released last week by an environmental group.

According to Heal the Bay, 80 of 89 beaches in Los Angeles County earned top grades over the summer, a 3 percent increase over last year.

Cabrillo Beach was the only one in the county to get a failing grade, although Los Angeles and San Mateo counties accounted for the majority of D and F grades issued in the report.

Of the 450 beaches tested across the state, 96 percent earned A or B grades in Heal the Bay's report. The grades were based on water testing conducted between Memorial Day and Aug. 21.

The counties that earned perfect water-quality grades were Ventura, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and Mendocino.

The complete report is available online at www.healththebay.org/brcsummer.