Santa Monica Home To California's Most Polluted Beach, Report Says

SANTA MONICA, CA — The ever-crowded shores of Santa Monica at the famous pier scored the top spot as the most polluted beach in all of California in Heal The Bay's 2023 Beach Report Cards.

Thanks to recent heavy rainfall and millions of gallons of sewage spilled into the ocean, beach pollution grades slipped across Southern California this year, according to Heal the Bay’s 33rd Annual Beach Report Card.

The nonprofit assigns letter grades to beaches across California based on levels of fecal-indicator bacterial pollution that are reported by local health agencies.

The beach at Santa Monica Pier achieved F grades for both dry and wet conditions, officials said. Of all the beaches studied in Heal The Bay's list, Santa Monica tied for worst with Playa Blanca in Tijuana.

Pollution tends to be highest following rainstorms, reflected by the "wet" grades, while dry-weather test results were generally "very good" across the state, Heal the Bay said.

Heal the Bay says people who come in contact with water with a C grade or lower are at a greater risk of contracting illnesses such as stomach flu, ear infections, upper respiratory infections and rashes.

Mother's Beach in Marina del Rey is another Los Angeles County beach that also made the list of the top 10 most polluted beaches, which Heal the Bay says is due to its poor water circulation.

“As climate change continues to bring weather whiplash, our water woes will swing from scarcity to pollution. This year, record precipitation produced major impacts on water quality across Coastal California,” said Heal the Bay CEO Tracy Quinn. “Now more than ever, we must prioritize multi-benefit projects to manage stormwater as both a water quality and supply solution, all while ensuring that the public is kept informed of risks to public health.”

You can view an interactive map of beach grades here.