whats in your water

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Escondido Creek has high levels of nitrogen and the
Tijuana River has rising levels of raw sewage, including fecal matter, San
Diego Coastkeeper announced today.
The environmental organization released its 2010 Water Quality
Monitoring Data, which tabulates monthly sampling throughout nine of the 11
watersheds in San Diego County.
The high nitrate levels in Escondido Creek could come from fertilizer
runoff, sewage or animal manure, and could clog water flow and impact acquatic
organisms, according to Coastkeeper.
``The Regional Water Quality Control Board does not currently list
Escondido Creek for nitrates,'' said Travis Pritchard, the organization's water
quality lab coordinator. ``We submitted our data showing the elevated levels to
the regulators to be considered under the next listing process. This is how our
Water Quality Monitoring program and its team of volunteers are making San
Diego's water healthier.''
Escondido Creek runs 28 miles from near Lake Wohlford through Elfin
Forest and Rancho Santa Fe to the San Elijo Lagoon.
Raw sewage flows into the Tijuana River during rainstorms and fouls
beaches in the South Bay, according to Coastkeeper.
Pritchard said the data will help government decision-making regarding
bodies of water.