By Jorge Casuso

November 10, 2021 -- County Health officials are advising beachgoers to avoid the waters around the Santa Monica Pier as temperatures hit 90 in LA for Veterans Day and the weekend.

The advisory issued Wednesday covers the water 100 yards north and south of the pier, especially the area around the Pico-Kenter storm drain.

"The warning has been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested," public health officials said.

The high bacteria levels pose a danger to swimmers, surfers and those playing in the ocean, health officials said.

Health advisories for the pier area persisted for much of the dry summer months especially during a stretch in July and August after polluted waste water was discharged from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant into Santa Monica Bay on July 11 and 12.

Health officials, however, continued to issue warnings saying the high levels of bacteria were “very likely” the result of day-to-day fluctuations unrelated to the sewage discharge.

The water around the pier -- which suffers from natural factors including bird debris -- has traditionally registered high levels of bacteria year-round.

It has landed nearly a dozen times on Heal the Bay's notorious Beach Bummers list over the past two decades.

This year the environmental group gave it a D grade during dry summer weather, which covers the period from April to October 2020, and F grades during winter wet and dry weather, which covers the period from November through March 2021.

Water quality near the pier is expected to improve with the construction of the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), a stormwater harvesting tank.

Other beaches on the County's advisory list Wednesday were Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey, Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro and Grand Avenue Storm Drain at El Segundo Beach.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the low 80s in Santa Monica over the next few days, with sunny skies, according to the national Weather Service.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the county's beach closure hotline at 1-800- 525-5662. Information is also available at PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.