Rain-Related Sewage Spills Close Beaches

The weekend’s fierce El Nino-related storm sent about 500,000 gallons of sewage into the Pacific Ocean, forcing the county to close 7 1/2 miles of coastline between Laguna Beach and San Clemente, officials said Monday.

One of the hardest-hit locations was Aliso Beach, where runoff overwhelmed a sewer pumping station and caused 130,000 to 150,000 gallons of untreated waste water to flow from an outcrop just off the coast.

Another sewage pumping station was overwhelmed down the coast near Dana Point, sending 100,000 to 300,000 gallons of effluent into the San Juan Creek, which flows into the ocean.

Two smaller spills prompted county health inspectors to shut down portions of Laguna Beach and Doheny Beach as well.

“This is a significant closure,” said Larry Honeybourne, manager of the county’s water-quality program. “When you have 6 to 7 inches of rain in a few hours, the sewer system just can’t handle it.”

High chloroform bacteria counts exceeding state swimming standards were recorded at the four stretches of beach. The levels of bacteria indicate the possible presence of disease-causing organisms, Honeybourne said.

People who swim or surf at the beaches could be exposed to viruses such as hepatitis or salmonella in the water, he added.

Sanitation agencies have been warning the public for months about the potential dangers of posed by El Nino, a weather pattern expected to bring heavy rains to Orange County throughout the winter.

During downpours, water flows into the sewer system through openings in manhole covers, potentially taxing waste-water treatment systems beyond capacity. Honeybourne said that in extreme cases, overburdened sewers can send waste water into the street and storm drains leading to the sea.

Sanitation districts have been working with cities to place temporary plugs in the manhole cover openings and are asking residents to refrain from doing laundry during heavy rains. Laundry is one of the top producers of household waste water.

Sewer systems in South County had the most problems from Saturday’s deluge.

The first storm of the season believed to be related to El Nino slammed South County communities such as Laguna Beach and Lake Forest with more than 7 inches of rain--several inches more than cities just a few miles to the north.

The Sanitation Districts of Orange County, which serve communities north of the El Toro Y, said its treatment system experienced no failures but was pushed to the limit.

On Saturday, the waste-water system hit a peak when 500 million gallons--twice the normal flow--rushed through its plants. During the severe floods of January 1995, the peak was 550,000 gallons.

“Because of the heavy inflow of rainwater, we ask people to cut down on the amount of waste water they [produce] during the storms,” said Michelle Tuchman, spokeswoman for the sanitation districts. “These water conservation measures make a difference.”

County health officials described the beach closures as the most extensive since the January 1995 storms, which kept coastal sections of Newport Beach and the South County off-limits for about a week.

Honeybourne said Saturday’s sewage contamination appeared to occur because sewers became inundated with rainwater and had to release some of the liquid waste.

County inspectors will check the beaches daily and won’t reopen them to swimmers and surfers until the bacteria levels fall within state swimming standards.

Officials also urged swimmers to stay away from other beaches adjacent to creeks, rivers and storm drains at least through today or Wednesday.

Pollution wasn’t the only problem facing beaches in the wake of the storm.

In Laguna Beach, the storm eroded several feet of the Main Beach, but the area is expected to be replenished naturally over time, said Scott Dietrich, a lifeguard lieutenant.

Lifeguards are on duty at the Main Beach, but only to remind the public that the beach is closed, city officials said.

The boardwalk, rebuilt after the 1995 storm, escaped any serious damage. But the nearby grassy park is nothing but a field of mud, and the concrete walkways were torn up by the rough surf.

At Little Corona Beach on the edge of Newport Beach, the storm scraped away sand, leaving a cobblestone shore strewn with uprooted vegetation and debris.

“I’ve never seen it like this before,” said Brent Ranek, marine safety supervisor for Newport Beach. “It just sucked all the sand away.”

The beach probably would be restored in time by natural processes but could receive some human assistance, said John Blauer, community relations officer for the Newport Beach Fire and Marine Department.

“We may end up trucking some sand in to replenish the beach in time for summer,” he said.

Also contributing to this report were Times staff writers Bob Ourlian and David Reyes and correspondents Julio V. Cano and Frank Messina.