Malibu’s Water Improves

Malibu coastline. Photo courtesy of the USGS.
Malibu coastline. Photo courtesy of the USGS.

MALIBU—Malibu residents may now have many more reasons to throw beach parties, as recent studies show a significant improvement in the Bay’s water quality.

Malibu’s improved water quality was due in large part to a community effort to create less pollution and littering. The city also installed a series of low-flow diversions, as well as on-site treatment facilities in several of the Bay’s storm drains. According to the 2010 State of the Bay Report, Santa Monica Bay beaches are much safer this year. Malibu ocean fronts are less dangerous for swimmers than they were five years ago, largely because of reduced pathogen indicator contamination during dry summer weather.

The study also reported that the degraded ocean floor habitats that surround the sewage outfalls have made a “remarkable recovery.”

Despite the city’s efforts, the task of improving outdoor water conservation is ongoing.

While Malibu and Santa Monica Bay residents are putting forth an effort to clean their beaches, there is still much progress to be made. The bay’s water quality is poor during the wet season,  as trash surrounds local creeks and streams. These polluted areas create health hazards for both human and aquatic life.

The State of the Bay report is conducted by the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC). The report is compiled with a detailed, comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the environmental conditions of the Santa Monica Bay. Along with the support and guidance of the commission’s Technical Advisory Committee, SMBRC’s goal is to improve water quality and protect the Bay’s benefits and values.

With better water and cleaner oceans, parents may allow their children to enjoy the beach with a little more ease.