Newport Harbor beach reopens after 2-day closure

A section of beach in Newport Harbor reopened Monday, following a

sewage spill that forced it to close on Saturday morning.

At 8:19 a.m. Saturday, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced

it had closed the section of Harbor Patrol Beach near the Balboa Yacht

Club.

About 100 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the harbor after a line

broke at a pump-out station, which boats use to unload sewage tanks. The

station is under the management of the Orange County Harbors, Beaches and

Parks.

The spill was reported at 7 a.m. Saturday. For more than 48 hours, the

area was closed to swimmers and divers.

By 1:30 p.m. Monday, bacteria levels had returned to acceptable levels

and the health care agency reopened the area.