Sun, Sand and Sewage

The sun, the sand, the Pacific Ocean. Put them together and you get an irresistible magnet for Southern Californians and tourists, a major reason for making the region what it is.

But the beaches need better treatment from one and all, and especially from those who have control over the sewers and creeks that carry foul runoff from increasingly urbanized Orange County to less-than-blue ocean waters.

In one week this month, the start of the peak swimming season, three beaches in Orange County were closed because of raw sewage found in the water. The public and private entities involved need to do a better job of inspecting facilities to spot potential sewer pipe leaks and breaks.

The first stretch of waters declared off-limits to waders, swimmers and surfers was two-thirds of Bolsa Chica State Beach, where dozens of cracks in a sewer line serving the beach’s restrooms were discovered.

Next came a 5,000-gallon sewage spill into Salt Creek Beach Park in Monarch Beach, forcing the closure of a part of Salt Creek Beach and all of private Monarch Beach.

The last in the trio of shutdowns was Doheny State Beach, after raw sewage was found to be leaking into San Juan Creek. That led to the closure of about half the beach over a weekend that would have been splendid for swimming.

Environmental health specialists said the leaks occurred in three separate sewage lines, miles apart. That demonstrates the need for widespread inspections of sewage lines.

In Orange County, some beaches are operated by the state, some by the county, and some by cities. All are vulnerable.

At Bolsa Chica State Beach, officials had hoped to replace the sewer line this fall or winter. They should have acted sooner, before summer draws crowds to the beach. There has also been reluctance to use chemical toilets as a temporary measure because people are said not to like them. That may be true, but they are needed now and should be used.

County officials have blamed many of the spills on aging sanitation facilities. Treatment plants will have to be fixed or replaced. The beaches are too important to Orange County’s economy and lifestyle to be closed for long periods any time of year, but especially in the summer.