Tourists Splash in Polluted Waters of Santa Monica Pier

Despite warnings about germs and chemicals, beachgoers continue to swim in the contaminated waters around the iconic California landmark.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 2:55pm

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The waters around the famous Santa Monica Pier in California currently hold an 'F' grade from the Heal the Bay monitoring organization due to high amounts of bacteria and toxic chemicals. However, many tourists continue to swim in the polluted surf, either unaware or unconcerned about the health risks.

Why it matters

The contamination of the waters around the Santa Monica Pier highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining water quality and public health at popular beach destinations. The issue raises questions about the effectiveness of warning signs, the role of local authorities in enforcing safety, and the broader environmental and public health impacts of pollution in coastal areas.

The details

The water around the Santa Monica Pier is polluted with high levels of total coliform, fecal coliform (E. coli), and Enterococcus bacteria, as well as toxic chemicals like mercury and PCBs. Authorities have warned anglers not to eat fish caught in the area due to the contamination. Despite these warnings, many tourists continue to swim in the waters, either unaware or unconcerned about the health risks.

  • The latest water quality testing was conducted on January 23, 2026.
  • The Santa Monica Pier has historically had poor water quality, but the nearby beach to the south only recently received an 'F' grade in November 2025.

The players

Heal the Bay

A monitoring organization that grades the water quality of California beaches, and has given the waters around the Santa Monica Pier an 'F' grade.

California Office of Environmental Health

The state agency that is urging anglers to avoid eating certain fish species caught near the Santa Monica Pier due to high levels of mercury and PCBs.

Neil Johnson

A 19-year-old fisherman who travels from Arizona to fish off the Santa Monica Pier, but strictly practices catch-and-release due to the poor water quality and contamination of the fish.

Chaz

An on-duty lifeguard at the Santa Monica Pier who is aware of the germs and chemicals in the water, but still swims for fun despite the risks.

Aldo Frias

A 49-year-old tourist from Mexico City who is unconcerned about the water quality and plans to swim in the polluted waters around the Santa Monica Pier.

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What they’re saying

“For us, it's all the same as long as the water isn't too cold.”

— Aldo Frias (California Post)

“I don't eat much around here because it's pretty gross. A lot of times you'll cut the fish open and the meat inside is black.”

— Neil Johnson, Fisherman (California Post)

“It's gonna be fine. Everybody will be ok.”

— John, Beachcomber (California Post)

“It's our first time here. We didn't know the water was contaminated.”

— Jesus Gonzalez (California Post)

“I'm used to it by now.”

— Chaz, Lifeguard (California Post)

What’s next

Authorities have installed caging and anti-perch wires to deter birds from nesting under the pier and contaminating the water, but these measures have had limited effectiveness so far. Further steps may be needed to address the ongoing pollution issues and protect public health.

The takeaway

The persistent contamination of the waters around the iconic Santa Monica Pier highlights the challenges of maintaining water quality and public health at popular tourist destinations. Despite warnings about the health risks, many beachgoers continue to swim in the polluted waters, underscoring the need for more effective education, enforcement, and long-term solutions to address the underlying environmental and infrastructure issues contributing to the problem.