The ocean near Manhattan Beach's South 28th Street storm drain is safe to swim in again after the LA County Department of Public Health lifted a bacteria warning Thursday, July 16, one day after flagging the site.

The department's Wednesday, July 15 advisory had warned beachgoers to stay out of the water within 100 yards of the storm drain due to bacterial levels exceeding state health standards. By Thursday, new sample results showed the water had returned to safe levels, and the department cleared the Manhattan Beach location.

Seven other LA County beach sites remain under warning. As of the July 16 advisory, active warnings persist at the Pulga storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach, Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey, Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach, Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, and Santa Monica Pier.

The department has issued back-to-back ocean water use warnings since at least Wednesday, July 8, with new advisories going out on July 10, July 13, July 14, July 15, and July 16. The warnings come as a heat wave pushing LA valley temperatures past 105 degrees draws larger crowds to the coast, where some may unknowingly enter contaminated water.

Coastal South Bay cities have stayed cooler. Manhattan Beach is forecast to hit a high of 77 degrees Friday, July 17, with 76 on Saturday and 75 on Sunday.

What the warnings mean

When the DPH flags a beach, it advises the public to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean water at that location. The warnings are triggered by water samples showing bacterial contamination above state standards, which the department says increases the risk of illness.

According to the EPA, the most common illness from sewage-contaminated swimming water is gastroenteritis, causing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, and fever. Swimmers can also develop ear, eye, nose, and throat infections.

The EPA advises beachgoers to avoid swimming near visible discharge pipes or at urban beaches after heavy rainfall, and to keep open wounds out of the water.

How to check conditions

The DPH resamples sites that have exceeded state standards and updates advisories as conditions change. The Beach Cities of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach also jointly collect water samples within their cities once a week year-round.

Before heading to the beach, residents can check the current status at publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach or call the county's 24-hour beach hotline at 1-800-525-5662. Signs are also posted at impacted beaches.

To report a sewage spill during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), call (626) 430-5360. After hours, weekends, and holidays: (213) 974-1234.