SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA / A news summary : The Regional Review / DEVELOPMENTS IN ORANGE, RIVERSIDE, SAN BERNARDINO AND VENTURA COUNTIES : Tests Show Sharp Drop in Surf Bacteria Levels

Test results showed negligible levels of unhealthy bacteria in the surf Wednesday, setting off a loud chorus of demands to lift swimming restrictions before the Labor Day weekend.

“These are the lowest numbers we’ve seen in some time,” said Larry Honeybourne, who oversees water quality for the Orange County Health Agency. “We’re very encouraged.”

Miles of water off the popular city and state beaches have been off-limits since July 1, when extremely high levels of fecal coliform and other bacteria were found. Some sections reopened this week.

But Honeybourne and county health officials insist that they need several days of clean water before allowing swimmers back into the surf.

Angry federal and state legislators and pleading municipal officials and business owners promptly demanded to know why, and Assemblyman Scott Baugh (R-Huntington Beach) said he would introduce legislation today to give local officials the power to override county health officials if waters are clean.

“The fact of the matter is, the last two readings look really good,” Huntington Beach Deputy Administrator Richard Barnard told health officials at a meeting Wednesday afternoon. “Isn’t there some hope you can give us? We’re concerned about Labor Day--it’s a big deal, you know.”

Ron Hagan, Huntington Beach director of community services, said he needed to know what to expect so he could have lifeguards on duty when the beaches open.

“If you decide Friday morning to open the beach, and the lifeguards aren’t there, there could be drownings, which would be a lot worse than what you’ve got now,” he said.