Scripps researchers launch tool that forecasts South Bay sewage levels and swimming risk

Like the weather, pollution in ocean can be forecast

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) -- Scientists from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography have unveiled a tool that forecasts sewage-contamination levels at beaches in south San Diego County. It's called the Pathogen Forecast Model hosted by the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System at Scripps. The Pathogen Forecast Model website provides detailed estimates shoreline sewage concentrations and the likelihood of swimmers getting…

Scripps researchers launch tool that forecasts South Bay sewage levels and swimming risk

A sign on Imperial Beach. Photo by George Mullen Researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have unveiled a new forecast model that predicts the amount of sewage in the South Bay up to five days ahead of time, helping beachgoers judge their risk of getting sick. At a press conference Tuesday, the lead oceanographer on the project, Falk Feddersen, said the pathogen forecast model works like a weather forecast for ocean sewage levels…

Is it safe to swim? New forecasting tool predicts severity of ocean pollution

Imagine being able to check the likelihood of ocean pollution the same way you check the weather. It is an idea that a team of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego put into practice on Tuesday, launching the first version of a “Pathogen Forecast Model” that looks five days into the future, using weather, tide, wave and river flow forecasts to calculate what ocean water conditions are likely to exist hour by hour fro…

Scripps researchers launch tool to predict beach closures from sewage

Influencer Michelle Sky Hayward Accidentally Swims in Sewage Water in Cape Town

Michelle Sky Hayward, an influencer, recently shared a video of herself swimming in foamy waters at a beach in Cape Town, only to be met with shocked comments from viewers informing her that she was actually swimming in sewage. Confusion at the Beach In her Instagram video, Hayward appeared puzzled by the murky, foam-filled water. […]

Oceanographers create 5-day forecast for beach pollution

Beaches on San Diego’s south coast have been closed countless times by sewage discharge in the Tijuana River Valley. Now there’s a way to predict when water pollution will be a problem.