Dyeing for clues in pollution hunt

Eron Ben-Yehuda

The Orange County Sanitation District will perform a dye test today to

determine whether leaks exist in the sewage outfall pipe that releases

treated waste water five miles into the ocean.

A “short, quick” sampling of water last week along the Santa Ana River --

where urban runoff flows into the ocean -- was inconclusive, said Larry

Honeybourne, who oversees water quality for the Orange County Health Care

Agency.

“It doesn’t appear that there’s a smoking gun,” he said.

And adding to Surf City’s woes, jumbo squid invaded Huntington Beach last

week.

“I’m not much for calamari,” said Michele Tuchman, Orange County

Sanitation District spokeswoman.

But pinpointing the source of ocean bacteria remains the top priority for

health officials.

The latest tests in the surf zone showed only “isolated, intermittent

hits” of bacteria readings above state health standards, Honeybourne

said. Overall, the level of contamination since early this month remains

relatively low.

“We’re kind of scratching our heads saying, ‘Where did it go?’ ”

To err on the side of caution, signs remained posted at Huntington State

Beach, warning swimmers to stay out of the water, Honeybourne said. A

high reading near the pier led to a posting there, too, although the

ocean remains safe on either side. Honeybourne said bird droppings hosed

off the pier might explain the anomaly.

A greater oddity turned up at Bolsa Chica State Beach on Sept. 22, when

about 150 dead squids washed ashore, state lifeguard Rich Haydon said.

None have graced the shore since, he said.

Many of the marine mollusks, which ranged in size from 12 to 20 inches, come from Central and South America, said Steve Crooke, a biologist for

the state Department of Fish and Game.

“Nobody really knows why they showed up this year,” he said.

One reason could be the bountiful anchovies and sardines off the Orange

County coast, he said.

Thousands of the squid have been fished off Newport Beach. Crooke said he

hadn’t seen so many since the 1970s.