Keep those waters clean

If you’re going for a swim, for goodness -- or should we say health’s

-- sake, swim in the ocean and not the harbor.

That’s one way of looking at a report out last week that found the

ocean waters off Newport’s beaches to be first-rate, while various

parts of the harbor don’t rate a dip of the toe.

Spots that got a poor grade in the report by Heal the Bay were

Onyx Avenue beach on Balboa Island, the beaches at 43rd, 38th and

10th streets and the Harbor Patrol Beach.

All got an F.

The north side of Newport Dunes and the Garnet Avenue beach

received Ds.

The harbor, in other words, continues to hold onto the filth

that’s there; out in the ocean, there are at least currents to churn

in fresh water.

Much has been written about efforts to keep the waters clean. Just

this week, Rep. Chris Cox announced federal support for a plan to

clean up water that drains into the Back Bay. And the city has strict

new guidelines for water use.

The harbor, and to a lesser extent the beaches, need all those

efforts and more.

So let’s keep them coming.