Scripps Water in La County (Newport Beach?)

[oscar.millan]

I've recently started collecting water from the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, but it's a bit of a drive for me since I live in LA County.

I typically take several 55 gallon drums to make the trip worthwhile.

Does anybody know of a similar type setup near LA County? I got a strong lead that there might be something similar in Newport Beach, but I'm not sure how much there is in that statement.

Anybody have any information regarding this, please let me know.

I'm happy to answer questions regarding my Scripps trip and experience.

Thanks!

[jcolletteiii]

There is a salinity research station on the UC Riverside campus - I'll have to look into whether they have public access water - I doubt it though, as they'd have to truck it in themselves.

[pledosophy]

I moved out of Orange County 4 years ago, but I used to get my free water in Newport Beach. It's actually in Corona Del Mar.

Basically you take the 405s to the 73 get off at Mac Aurthur and go towards the beach. You turn left on what I believe is PCH and follow that until you hit a street called Poppy, there is a light there and it is before Crystal Cove. There is a restraunt there called the 4 crowns and a photogaphy studio called John Bloom. Poppy will dead end at Ocean Blvd where you will have to turn right. From there it is your second or third left that will take you down this crazy narrow road through some houses and next to a volleyball court. There is a building there called the Kentmouth Research Facilitity or something close to that, park there. There is a hose in the parking lot with a regular ball valve and you can get up to 500g of free salt water there.

I used to photograph clients at the "Little Corona Beach" twice a week and get 50g free every time I went down. It's been awhile though.

[oscar.millan]

Originally Posted by jcolletteiii

There is a salinity research station on the UC Riverside campus - I'll have to look into whether they have public access water - I doubt it though, as they'd have to truck it in themselves.

Thanks for the reply. Let me know if you find anything. I'm amazed that they offer it free at Scripps. I'm very grateful that they allow crazy people like us to take as much water as we please. FOR FREE!

So far so good for me, good water.

[oscar.millan]

Originally Posted by pledosophy

I moved out of Orange County 4 years ago, but I used to get my free water in Newport Beach. It's actually in Corona Del Mar.

Basically you take the 405s to the 73 get off at Mac Aurthur and go towards the beach. You turn left on what I believe is PCH and follow that until you hit a street called Poppy, there is a light there and it is before Crystal Cove. There is a restraunt there called the 4 crowns and a photogaphy studio called John Bloom. Poppy will dead end at Ocean Blvd where you will have to turn right. From there it is your second or third left that will take you down this crazy narrow road through some houses and next to a volleyball court. There is a building there called the Kentmouth Research Facilitity or something close to that, park there. There is a hose in the parking lot with a regular ball valve and you can get up to 500g of free salt water there.

I used to photograph clients at the "Little Corona Beach" twice a week and get 50g free every time I went down. It's been awhile though.

Wow! Thanks for the info, this is exactly what I'm looking for! I will check it out and let you know how it went. Thanks again, I really do appreciate you taking the time, especially in taking the time to detail exactly how to get there. I'm going to do a run through via google street view now, and likely take a trip down there in my truck tomorrow with a few barrels.

I'll keep everyone posted.

[pledosophy]

In the parking lot there is just a hose with a ball head on the end. It is right next to the volleyball courts. YOu will think you are going the wrong way until you see it.

The beach that is down the ramp at the intersection of Poppy and Ocean is worth walking down in low tide. There are some huge star fish 3 feet across, many octopi, and an insane amount of sea urchins.

FWIW I moved away several years ago, my info is 4 years old. I would try the So Cal Reefer forum to see if it's still running.

Glad to help.

[oscar.millan]

Alright, I'm going out to explore in a few minutes. I'm not going to take a big container this time. I'm going to take a few samples and report back.

I also don't want to drive my truck down there, so I'll be driving the wife's fuel efficient car for the exploration part of this adventure.

Thanks again for info, I'll keep everyone posted.

Here is the website for the Kerckhoff Marine Lab:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~mirsky/kml.htm

I have that address as well to orient myself in case I get really lost, but with the detail descriptions, I should be fine.

[Sisterlimonpot]

Here's one in santa barbera that is open to the public.

[ArmanS]

Originally Posted by oscar.millan

Alright, I'm going out to explore in a few minutes. I'm not going to take a big container this time. I'm going to take a few samples and report back.

I also don't want to drive my truck down there, so I'll be driving the wife's fuel efficient car for the exploration part of this adventure.

Thanks again for info, I'll keep everyone posted.

Here is the website for the Kerckhoff Marine Lab:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~mirsky/kml.htm

I have that address as well to orient myself in case I get really lost, but with the detail descriptions, I should be fine.

please let us know if you find it! free saltwater ftw

[username in use]

From what I understand the Pacific ocean runs up and down the whole west coast. If you can find a pier or a nice point you should be able to get all the free water you want with a bucket and a rope.

[Sisterlimonpot]

Originally Posted by username in use

From what I understand the Pacific ocean runs up and down the whole west coast. If you can find a pier or a nice point you should be able to get all the free water you want with a bucket and a rope.

Have to be careful with that, Many impurities are in the water close to the shore, if you're going to obtain water like that you need to go a few miles off the coast to ensure better water quality.

[username in use]

I collect mine from 20ft offshore. I think the key is to choose your location wisely, Like a long point that extends out a ways, and collect on an incoming tide to get the deeper waters. I also wouldnt collect too soon after a large rain due to runoff, or collect next to a shipping port.

[CountChocula]

Originally Posted by oscar.millan

Alright, I'm going out to explore in a few minutes. I'm not going to take a big container this time. I'm going to take a few samples and report back.

I also don't want to drive my truck down there, so I'll be driving the wife's fuel efficient car for the exploration part of this adventure.

Thanks again for info, I'll keep everyone posted.

Here is the website for the Kerckhoff Marine Lab:

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~mirsky/kml.htm

I have that address as well to orient myself in case I get really lost, but with the detail descriptions, I should be fine.

What ever happened with this? A buddy of mine at work just told me about "A place in Newport beach to get NSW water" when I mentioned driving down to La Jolla. But unfortunately that's all he told me.

[Qtip760]

Originally Posted by oscar.millan

I've recently started collecting water from the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, but it's a bit of a drive for me since I live in LA County.

I typically take several 55 gallon drums to make the trip worthwhile.

Does anybody know of a similar type setup near LA County? I got a strong lead that there might be something similar in Newport Beach, but I'm not sure how much there is in that statement.

Anybody have any information regarding this, please let me know.

I'm happy to answer questions regarding my Scripps trip and experience.

Thanks!

I just started saving money to get a reef setup going. I live in San Diego, and not having to buy a ro/di system would be nice. How exactly do you get free water from scripps? Is it filtered or something that would make it better than just grabbing it from the ocean? Thanks for any info.

[dougsidd]

Originally Posted by Qtip760

I just started saving money to get a reef setup going. I live in San Diego, and not having to buy a ro/di system would be nice. How exactly do you get free water from scripps? Is it filtered or something that would make it better than just grabbing it from the ocean? Thanks for any info.

Don't go now, because they're doing some kind of construction there and the water's unavailable for the next few weeks.

You go to the base of Scripps pier, and there's a hose bib with a hose attached there. There's very little signage, but it's near the three huge (maybe 10 ft diameter x 10-12 ft tall) sand filters.

Basically, they draw the water from near the bottom at the end of the pier, run it through those filters and to the hose bib. It's the water they use at Scripps Institute and the Birch aquarium, but they may skim it first--not sure about that.

All kinds of debate about whether it's safe--whether it has enough calcium or mag, red tide, disease, parasites, polluted runoff after rainfall, etc. Plenty of people use it without any treatment though, so make your own decisions.

There's a good sticky thread at sdreefs about Scripps water you might want to check out.

HTH
doug