By Lookout Staff

October 1, 2021 -- As beachgoers take advantage of warm weather this weekend before temperatures begin to dip, health officials are advising avoiding the waters near the Santa Monica Pier.

On Friday night, Los Angeles County Public health officials extended for the fourth day in a row an ocean water use warning issued on Monday for the Pier area.

In addition to the Pier, other nearby areas covered by Friday's advisory are the Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach piers and Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey, which has been the subject of health advisories for much of the summer.

"The warning has been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested," public health officials said on Friday.

The water 100 yards north and south of the pier -- especially the area around the Pico-Kenter storm drain -- continues to pose a danger to swimmers, surfers and those playing in the ocean, health officials said.

Like Mother's Beach, the waters near the pier have been on and off the advisory list for much of the summer due to high bacteria levels that make the water potentially unsafe to wade in.

Health officials have said the high bacteria levels are “very likely” the result of day-to-day fluctuations near the Pier due to natural factors including bird debris.

Heal The Bay's 2020-21 Beach Report Card issued in June gave the water around the Pier a D grade during dry summer weather, which covers the period from April to October 2020, barely avoiding the infamous Beach Bummers list.

The Pier received an F during dry winter weather, from November 2020 to March 2021, and also received an F during wet weather, when rain flushes contaminants and pollution, including bacteria, from streets directly into the ocean.

Water quality near the pier is expected to improve with the construction of the $96 million Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), a stormwater harvesting tank.

City officials say the project -- which includes a below grade stormwater and sewer treatment facility at the Civic Center Lot -- will improve local beach water quality, City officials said.

For around-the-clock recorded information on beach conditions call the County's beach closure hotline at 1-800- 525-5662.