Council approves more funds for contamination study

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The City Council voted to appropriate more money

to consultants who are studying the city’s urban runoff, a research

project that aims to find a solution for the area’s beach contamination

problems.

In January, the city contracted URS Greiner Woodward Clyde and Komex

H20 Science Inc. to identify and eliminate bacteria in urban runoff

discharges to Huntington Beach.

The city amended its contract with URS Greiner Woodward Clyde to total

$927,000 and with Komex H20 Science Inc. to total $514,000.

The studies continued the city’s efforts to identify and eliminate the

source of bacteria that led to surf zone closures and posted warnings.

The consultants have already completed their research.

“It appears a lot more complex than we originally conceived it was,”

said Dennis MacLaine, the city’s water operation manager.

Consultants found a lot of important information -- including sources

of pollution -- that is still under review, MacLaine said. However, no

information will be released until the final report is drafted. The

report of the finding is expected to be ready in October, possibly with

some recommendations.

“We think we’re going to be able to better understand what’s

happening,” said Rich Barnard, city spokesman.

While there are postings at the state beach near Magnolia and Newland

streets, there has only been one water closure in the city this year.

“We’ve had a pretty good year this year,” said Barnard, attributing it

to action taken by the city and county to divert urban runoff into the

Orange County Sanitation District’s facilities.

For now, city officials are waiting for the results to be released.

“We address everything we can so that we’re not contributing to

degradation of ocean waters,” he said.