LA County issues ocean water quality advisory after record rainfall – LAist

Report on Ocean Water Quality Advisory in Los Angeles County and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Public Health Advisory Overview

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department has issued a formal ocean water quality advisory for all county beaches. This action was necessitated by a recent record-setting, multi-day rainstorm. The advisory is scheduled to conclude at 8 a.m. on Saturday, but may be extended contingent upon further precipitation.

2.0 Correlation with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The advisory and its underlying causes directly relate to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary concern is the contamination of coastal waters by polluted runoff, which poses risks to human health, marine ecosystems, and the sustainability of urban environments.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The advisory is a direct measure to protect the public from waterborne illnesses caused by contact with contaminated ocean water.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The event highlights the challenge of managing stormwater and preventing pollution of water bodies, a core target of ensuring clean water for all.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The runoff originates from city streets, underscoring the need for improved urban infrastructure and waste management to mitigate environmental pollution.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The discharge of pollutants directly harms marine ecosystems, addressing the SDG 14 goal of reducing marine pollution from land-based activities.

3.0 Analysis of Contamination Pathways

The primary environmental risk stems from the transport of pollutants from land to sea during the heavy rainfall. The process can be outlined as follows:

1. Heavy precipitation washes over urban and natural landscapes, including city streets and mountain areas.
2. The resulting runoff collects a variety of hazardous materials. These contaminants include:
   • Trash
   • Chemicals
   • Debris
   • Other waste products
3. This polluted runoff is channeled through storm drains, creeks, and rivers.
4. These waterways ultimately discharge into the ocean, leading to the degradation of coastal water quality.

4.0 Conclusion and Strategic Implications

The public health advisory is a critical reactive measure to safeguard community health (SDG 3). However, the incident exposes a systemic vulnerability in regional environmental management. Achieving long-term resilience and sustainability requires proactive investment in infrastructure and policies that align with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) to prevent pollution at its source.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly connects to SDG 3 by highlighting the public health risks associated with polluted ocean water. The issuance of an advisory by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department is a direct measure to protect human health from waterborne illnesses. The text explicitly states the concern is that hazards in the water “could make you sick.”

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This goal is central to the article’s topic. The primary issue is the degradation of ocean water quality due to runoff from a rainstorm. The article describes how pollutants like “trash, chemicals, debris” contaminate the ocean, making it unsafe and highlighting a failure in managing water quality and sanitation on land, which directly impacts coastal water bodies.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The source of the pollution is identified as runoff “from city streets and mountain areas.” This points to issues within urban infrastructure and waste management, which are key components of SDG 11. The inability of the urban environment to contain pollutants like trash and chemicals during a storm reflects on the city’s environmental impact.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article discusses the pollution of the marine environment. The runoff, containing “trash, chemicals, debris,” is discharged directly into the ocean, which is a form of land-based marine pollution. This directly threatens marine ecosystems and aligns with the objectives of SDG 14 to protect and conserve marine resources.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9

   “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article’s focus on the risk of sickness from “chemicals, debris and other things” in the water directly relates to this target of reducing illnesses caused by water pollution.

2. Target 6.3

   “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…” The advisory was issued precisely because of a decline in water quality due to pollution from runoff. The presence of “trash, chemicals, debris” in the ocean is a clear example of the pollution this target aims to reduce.

3. Target 11.6

   “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The article identifies “city streets” as a source of the pollutants, specifically “trash” and “debris.” This points to challenges in municipal waste management, which is a key aspect of reducing the environmental impact of cities as outlined in this target.

4. Target 14.1

   “By 2030, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.” The situation described in the article is a textbook case of marine pollution from land-based activities. The runoff carrying pollutants from streets and mountains into the ocean directly addresses the problem this target seeks to solve.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator 3.9.2 (Implied)

   “Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene.” While the article does not mention deaths, it explicitly warns that the water “could make you sick.” The number and frequency of public health advisories regarding water quality can serve as a proxy indicator for the risk of illness from unsafe water.

2. Indicator 6.3.2 (Implied)

   “Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.” The issuance of an “ocean water quality advisory” implies that the water quality at L.A. County beaches is currently not good. The duration and frequency of such advisories can be used as a measure to track the state of ambient water quality in these coastal bodies.

3. Indicator 11.6.1 (Implied)

   “Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities.” The article’s mention of “trash” and “debris” from city streets ending up in the ocean implies a gap in waste management. The presence of such waste in runoff suggests that not all municipal solid waste is being effectively contained and managed, which this indicator aims to measure.

4. Indicator 14.1.1b (Implied)

   “Plastic debris density.” The article refers to “trash” and “debris” flowing into the ocean. This type of pollution is a major contributor to marine debris, which is often composed of plastics. The advisory itself is a response to an event known to increase the density of debris, including plastics, in coastal waters.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: laist.com