Cleaning Up the Bay
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The storm drain bacteria and virus contamination study referred to in the Sept. 29 Times article was completed under the auspices of the state and federally funded Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project. The project was one of those rare efforts where an environmental group, Heal the Bay, worked together with local government agencies in the city and county of Los Angeles to complete a major research effort.
The results of the study pointed to the need for further virus testing in the many storm drains that discharge untreated pollution to our beautiful local beaches. Other research needs recommended were further bacterial testing at our beaches and to design a large-scale health-effects study on people who swim near storm drains. Currently, the Bay Restoration Project is working on these much-needed projects.
MARK GOLD
Santa Monica
Editor’s note: Gold is the staff scientist for Heal the Bay.
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