Bacteria warnings posted in two areas of Harbour

Paul Clinton

The Orange County Health Care Agency posted warnings at two points in

Huntington Harbour after discovering heightened levels of bacteria.

The Sunset Aquatic Marina and Peter’s Landing Marina were both hit

with the postings on April 18 at 4 p.m. bringing the number of affected

areas in the harbor to three. Harbour Channel at Coral Cay had been

previously added to the agency’s list.

Swimmers and divers are warned to stay out of the water, when a

section of the harbor is posted to avoid the health risk.

The agency removed the two areas from its list of trouble spots on

Saturday.

The bacteria is present in urban runoff, which is usually funneled

into the harbor via the Bolsa Chica Channel or East Garden Grove

Wintersburg Channel, health care officials said.

Both channels bring polluted water from Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa

Ana and other upstream cities. The water contains pesticides used to

treat lawns, metals washed from car residue left on roadways and other

pollution.

The runoff is also expected to contain animal and human waste.

The health-care agency posts the areas that register with

higher-than-acceptable bacteria until testing shows they have returned to

safer levels.