Ocean Water Quality: Sewage Contamination Due to Santa Barbara's Tumultuous Rainstorm

Even after the City's over $20 million in sewer system improvements due to a lawsuit from Santa Barbara Channelkeeper (2011–2019), the sewer system still could not keep up during our most recent rainstorm. East Beach at Mission Creek, including West Beach, closed during the rainstorm due to a sewage spill. Many of the surrounding beaches have warning signs, meaning that sampling results at that beach indicate bacterial levels exceed one or more state health standards.

Watch our interview with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Education and Community Outreach Director, Penny Owens, as she reveals Channelkeeper's role in ocean water quality.