The Blue Water Task Force is Surfrider’s volunteer water quality monitoring program that provides critical water quality information to protect public health at the beach. Surfrider chapters use this program to raise awareness of local pollution problems and to bring together communities to implement solutions.
Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) labs measure fecal indicator bacteria levels in recreational waters and compare them to water quality standards set to protect public health. Chapter-run BWTF programs fill in the gaps and extend the coverage of agency-run beach monitoring programs by sampling ocean and bay beaches, estuaries and potential freshwater sources of pollution such as stormwater outlets, rivers and creeks that discharge onto the beach.
View Your Local Water Quality
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Water quality testing provided by Surfrider's {{info.name}} Chapter
Surfrider Foundation Los Angeles monitors water quality at nearly 10 beaches from Venice Beach to Malibu with the help of community volunteers and students at Santa Monica High School and Palisades High School. Samples are taken every Saturday. The following Sunday, we read the results of our findings and communicate the data to the public, so that our community knows if the water is safe to surf, swim and play in.
Our BWTF data augments the weekly beach monitoring program conducted by Los Angeles County and helps build community awareness of local pollution issues.
Want to join our crew of dedicated community scientists, surfers and ocean lovers? Email our Program Coordinator atbwtf@la.surfrider.orgto learn more and join the team.
Everyone deserves access to clean water to surf, swim and play in.
