Surfing Waves

Hey guys, it just rained here in Manhattan Beach, and I was wondering how many days should I wait until it is safe to get in the water. When is the water quality not harmful anymore? What do you guys usually do? Thanks.

-Charlie

It depends how close your beach is to rivers. I usually surf between two large rivers that pass through agricultural and urban areas so I'd wait for a few days after heavy rain or at least until the water visually looks better. If there are no rivers close by then I wouldn't be too concerned. Of course it also depends when it rained previous to the recent storm. If it had been dry for a long period then there will be a build up of lots more nasties that get washed into the rivers, but if it's been raining on and off then you only have to worry about sewage overflows.

^^^^^
Rivers are a problem, but not the biggest problem.

A far bigger problem are storm surges which overflow sewage systems such that untreated sewage goes directly into the pipes that empty into the ocean not very far out at all


A bit of run off from the rivers, or from the city, after 'normal' rain isnt that much of a drama. A biblical downpour on the other hand will put untreated $hite straight into the line up.

Give it a few days.

oh boi im in trouble lol.our rivermouth broke yesterday and i guess its not good to go outtttttttttttttttt

drowningbitbybit wrote:^^^^^
Rivers are a problem, but not the biggest problem.

The majority of sewage overflows discharge to rivers, even if towns are beside the coast. Take aberdeen for example (as I know it) all the emergency overflows for the city flow into the the River Dee and River Don. Why? When they were built (many, many years ago) the environment was secondary and there would be less construction needed and less pipe damage to plumb into a river as opposed to a dynamic coast. The dilution factor wasn't taken into account. Aberdeen has one EO south of the city at Nigg Bay discharging to the sea and that is at the treatment plant.

A few hundred miles of diffuse pollution from cow faeces shouldn't be dismissed also.

Rivers are a pretty good indication of what's going on.

Either way, stay out the water unless the waves are pumping.

Real Pol wrote:The majority of sewage overflows discharge to rivers, even if towns are beside the coast. Take aberdeen for example (as I know it) all the emergency overflows for the city flow into the the River Dee and River Don. Why? When they were built (many, many years ago) the environment was secondary and there would be less construction needed and less pipe damage to plumb into a river as opposed to a dynamic coast. The dilution factor wasn't taken into account. Aberdeen has one EO south of the city at Nigg Bay discharging to the sea and that is at the treatment plant.

^^^^^
Yup, all true
There's a bit of localism going on here
In your bit of the world, rivers are the more important factor, in my bit storm drains are the big issue. You dont see them so much in the UK, but the storm drains which take 'excess' rain off the streets and directly into the water (sometimes only onto the beach ) can easily be overwhelmed and end up getting mixed with raw sewage. Then you really dont want to be in the water.

Rivers here dont tend to have run through hundreds of miles of agricultural or industrial areas, so the crap flowing out of them is the same icky muck whether or not its been raining.

So, as we always end up saying here, "it depends on the break"

Alright, well i went in today straight out from a storm drain, and other than some trash, and stuff floating around it wasn't too bad. Thanks for the advice though!

-Charlie

drowningbitbybit wrote:Yup, all true

That's what I like about this forum. Users will admit when they got it wrong!
Apology accepted DBBB!

Manhattan Beach Grom wrote:Alright, well i went in today straight out from a storm drain, and other than some trash, and stuff floating around it wasn't too bad. Thanks for the advice though!

-Charlie

I know you know this, but the biggest problem after a rain is the stuff you can't see. Risk/reward type thing though. No use risking ear and eye infections. In LA, 3 days does the trick for me.

Check the annscottage web cam in heavy rains for what happens to polzeath beach!!
No sewage these days thanks in part to surfers against sewage amongst others but you can see why it was bad back in the day. THE CAR PARK WAS A LAKE OF WATER THE OTHER DAY"!

Ahhh! It rained again yesterday. Do you guys think it'll be ok to go tomorrow? I saw the storm drain, and it was definetely running into the water yesterday. But what if I went to a street not close to a drain? Also the surf is good!!!!! Aww man!

Manhattan Beach Grom wrote:Ahhh! It rained again yesterday. Do you guys think it'll be ok to go tomorrow? I saw the storm drain, and it was definetely running into the water yesterday. But what if I went to a street not close to a drain? Also the surf is good!!!!! Aww man!

In Manhattan
WATER SAFETY:
HAZARDOUS
The county board of health advises to avoid water contact up to 72hrs after significant rain fall.
Water Safety Guide

Check surfline for water safety in your area.

Yeah I actually just saw that after I posted the comment. It also says that tomorrow is gonna get up to 12 foot!! Double over head!!!

Ughh It's been 3 days since it last rained, so I went out today. The water smelled a little stinky and tasted way saltier than usual. It also made my throat burn a little when I accidentally got water in my mouth. I am thinking I should maybe wait a couple more days till I go out again.

-Charlie

If you're a true surfer you'll take the waves as they are!