Spill closes harbor beach

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT BEACH -- About a third of a mile of beach was closed Tuesday

after raw sewage spilled into Newport Harbor from a clogged line.

The Orange County Health Care Agency ordered the closure on Monday

evening after about 500 gallons of sewage overflowed. The spill was

caused by a root growing into the line, according to an agency press

release.

The stretch of sand between Harbor Patrol Beach, near the Balboa Bay

Club, and China Cove, at the edge of Corona del Mar, was closed to

swimming and diving.

The agency announced the closure at 7:15 p.m. Monday. It was the third

spill in the city so far this year.

The line that was blocked was a private sewage line, not a

city-operated line. But city officials should do a better job monitoring

lines for potential problems, said Defend the Bay founder Bob Caustin.

“It’s a recurring problem,” Caustin said. “We need to start inspecting

the lines to ensure this stops happening.”

Up until now, the city has not pressed inspections of private lines on

private property, Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said.

“We could go into people’s homes, but that’s a policy the [City]

Council would have to approve,” Kiff said. “This is like going in to

inspect the plumbing in people’s homes.”

The closure will stay in place until routine testing reveals that

bacteria counts are back down to acceptable levels.

Last year, Newport Beach led the county in sewage spills. Of the 51

reported in 2001, 18 were within the city.