Coastal waters near jetty closed

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- The Orange County Health Care Agency shut down a

strip of the city’s coastline Thursday because of a sewage spill.

The agency shut down 300 feet of beach south of the Santa Ana River,

as well as the 300-foot section of Huntington Beach coastline north of

the river.

During the closure, no swimming or surfing is permitted at the popular

surfing spot.

The agency’s action was a response to a Wednesday evening spill. At

about 5:15 p.m., a private sewage line burst, sending between 100 and 300

gallons into the ocean water.

It was the only closure reported Thursday in the county and was the

first of the year for the city, which experienced numerous problems last

year.

Last year started off with a 1,500-gallon spill Jan. 2 in Corona del

Mar and was topped by a 250,000-gallon sewage leak into the San Diego

Creek in December, the largest of the year in Orange County.

Several fuel spills, which are common in the boat-filled harbor, also

made the news, especially when two swans that live in the bay were

harmed.

The area affected by the current closure will remain closed until the

agency collects data from water testing that shows the water to be clean.

For more information on the spill, or to report a problem, call the

Orange County Environmental Health Division at (714) 667-3600.