IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. - The waters off the beaches south of Carnation Avenue in Imperial Beach were off limits Wednesday because of sewage-tainted runoff from the Tijuana River.

Sewage-contaminated runoff in the Tijuana River has been entering the Tijuana Estuary as a result of recent rainfall and was still flowing as of New Year's Day, according to San Diego County Department of Environmental Health spokesman Mark McPherson.

Observations made Tuesday prompted county officials to suspect ocean currents moving northward pushed the contamination toward the waters at Imperial Beach, he said. The county had previously closed the area at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge shoreline.

McPherson said signs warning of the contamination would remain in place until testing indicates the water is safe for recreational use once again.