How dirty is the water in San Francisco Bay?


How dirty is the water in San Francisco Bay? Throughout the San Francisco Bay, state Water Quality Standards are exceeded for pesticides, invasive species, mercury and other metals and toxic substances. Many miles of beaches are impaired for unacceptable levels of bacteria due to sewage spills and crumbling sewage infrastructure.


What beaches in California have fecal matter?

Besides Linda Mar beach, San Mateo County warns high levels of bacteria can also be found the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Capistrano Beach, and Pillar Points #8 and #9. San Mateo County recommends to not swim in ocean waters during and three days after a rain event, when pollution levels tend to spike.


Why is the San Francisco Bay water murky?

The brown in the Bay Waters is largely a plume of sediment, the raw material necessary to rebuild wetlands and maintain their health. That sediment, though, is mixed up with pollutants — toxic mercury from old mines, Lester McKee, a scientist with the San Francisco Estuary Institute tells News Group.


Can you swim in San Francisco water?

Swimming is not recommended here due to strong currents and cold water. If you do want to go for a dip, Ocean Beach is often considered San Francisco's most popular, with people flocking to it for swimming, surfing, kayaking, and surf fishing.


Are San Francisco beaches warm?

San Francisco is surrounded by water, but the area isn't known for warm beaches where you can soak in the sun all summer long. But there are still pockets of sandy coves and coastal areas where you can find warm beaches near San Francisco.


How deep is the water around Alcatraz?

The bay is actually only as deep as a swimming pool. Heck, between Hayward and San Mateo to San Jose it averages 12 to 36 inches. So much for that bridge! With that said though, the water surrounding Alcatraz is on the deeper end of the scale, but still, it's just an average depth of 43 feet.