LAGUNA BEACH : Stretch of Beach Could Reopen Today
County health officials have reopened half of a 2,000-foot stretch of beach north of Aliso Pier that had been closed since Wednesday, when 9,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the ocean.
The last 1,000-foot stretch of shoreline still off-limits to swimmers could be opened by today if laboratory tests show that bacteria in the water have dropped to state-approved levels, said Steve Wong, assistant director of environmental health for the county.
“Based on our results so far, the bacteria levels could be low enough to open the beach by the afternoon,” he said.
Health officials moved to shut down the beach last Wednesday when a blocked sewage pipe caused untreated sewage to flow from the street into Aliso Creek less than 300 feet from the ocean.
The spill was prompted by construction activities at a city park site near Coast Highway and Wesley Drive, where a heavy machine operator knocked over a manhole cover, causing rock and earth to jam an eight-inch sewer pipe.
Last year, sewage spills forced the shores of Laguna Beach to close nine times, including four spills that dumped more than 1.2 million gallons of sewage into the waters off Aliso Beach.
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