A contamination alert was in effect in San Diego County today along several miles of ocean shoreline just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The alert was issued Wednesday because of a rain-driven influx of sewage- fouled water from the Tijuana River, according to the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health. The advisory area extends from the international boundary to the shorelines of Border Field State Park, Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge and Imperial Beach.
The DEH today also issued a less-serious general advisory for the rest of the county's beaches.
"Swimmers, surfers and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff,'' the advisory said. ''Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria from a variety of sources, such as animal waste, soil and decomposing vegetables.''
Some signs warning of the pollution hazards were posted in the affected locations, the DEH advised.
