SAN CLEMENTE : Beach Near Pier Is Still Off Limits

The effects of last week’s storm were still being felt at the city pier Tuesday as a 1,000-foot stretch of beach remained closed by a weekend sewage spill.

Tests for coliform bacteria conducted by county health officials on Monday showed that waters near the popular South County pier were still unsafe for swimmers and surfers.

City officials said the spill was caused by equipment failure at the city sewage plant Friday morning that sent 500 to 1,000 gallons of raw sewage into the ocean from a drain beneath the pier. City officials responded by closing two 500-foot sections of beach on either side of the pier.

Officials had hoped to have the beach open by Monday, but last week’s storm also caused runoff from chemicals and organic materials to flow into the ocean and create artificially high coliform levels.

Additional rainfall over the next two days could extend the beach closure to Thursday or Friday, said Robert Merryman, director of environmental health for the county.

Last week’s rainstorm also churned up high surf that tossed rubble onto the beach. Workers on Tuesday were finishing efforts to clear the shoreline.

A high tide with 8-foot waves caused minor damage to the pier and forced its closure on Friday and Saturday. The pounding surf near the pier also carried to sea a 25-foot section of beach.