Safe to Swim Laws, Regulations and Standards
The following requirements govern the protection of water quality for recreational uses that involve water contact.
- Recreational Water Use Standards and Guidance
Designed to protect public health from pathogens that may present risks while engaging in water-contact recreational activities, such as swimming, diving, and surfing.
- California Department of Public Health Bacteriological Standards for waters adjacent to public beaches and public water-contact sports areas
Contact Recreational Use Standards for Ocean Waters
- Statewide Bacteria Standards
The State Water Resources Control Board is developing statewide bacterial standards to protect contact recreational uses of inland surface waters, enclosed bays and estuaries.
- California Department of Public Health Bacteriological Standards for waters adjacent to public beaches and public water-contact sports areas
- AB411 Legislation and Beach Monitoring Criteria
- SB 482 - Moved AB411 program oversight and funding support to the State Water Board starting January 2012.
- SB 1395 - How to adopt and use Enterococcus quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) rapid indicator methods at a California beach.
- Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000 - Amended the Federal Water Pollution Act to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters.
- Clean Water Act Sections 303(d) and 305(b) - Federal regulations for identifying impaired waters, conducting Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) to correct impairments, and assessing and reporting on the state’s water quality.
- State Water Board's 303(d) Listing Policy - State policy for identifying impaired waters.