California beach water quality up thanks to drought

Redondo Beach in California (Credit: Britt Reints)

Ninety-five percent of California beaches earned grades of A or B for water quality during the summer of 2013, according to the Los Angeles Times. The grades went up from 2012.

Heal the Bay, an environmental group, says the improvement came largely because of less runoff flowing to the coast during the driest year on record for the state. The group announced its findings in its annual Beach Report Card assessment for 2014.

Water quality tests from hundreds of beaches were included in the assessment. They measured levels of bacteria in the water, which can sicken swimmers and beachgoers.

Image: Redondo Beach in California (Credit: Britt Reints, via Flickr)