Pollution Fears Plague Beach Areas

A surge in Orange County beach closures caused by high bacteria levels in the surf has intensified worries among civic, business and environmentalist leaders who fear that diminishing water quality threatens not only the county’s reputation, but also its way of life.

“We are a coastal county,” said Wayne Baglin, chairman of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board and a former Laguna Beach city councilman. “Our beaches are key to not only generating revenue, but also for the quality of life that we all enjoy.”

The coast has already had 20 beach closings caused by sewage spills this year--only two shy of the total for all of 1999. Bacteria levels at Huntington Beach, which was closed for two months last summer, are again escalating; the source is still unidentified.

Health officials in Los Angeles County have reported nothing abnormal about bacteria counts for the first four months of this year. Widespread increases in bacteria counts usually accompany heavy rains, like those caused by an El Nino weather pattern, and this year has been a relatively dry one.

In Los Angeles County, “we’re seeing the usual poor water quality, the same problems we usually see during the first four months of every year,” said Mark Gold, director of Heal the Bay. He noted that so far this year, Orange County has had the most spill-related closures of the four counties his group monitors.

Exacerbating the problem is that urban runoff--the brew of trash, chemicals and toxic substances washed off lawns and streets into gutters--also often flows to county beaches by way of storm channels and creeks.

Several city, county and state studies in Orange County are underway to determine the source of the Huntington Beach pollution. And at least five coastal cities are making a preemptive strike by diverting polluted water to treatment plants before it hits the beach.

But some officials worry that the problem will persist because of a failure to address the causes of the coastal pollution--from aging sanitation systems to over-watered gardens. Michael Beanan, chairman of Laguna Beach’s Ocean Water Quality Advisory Committee, said he anticipates an escalation in beach closings--and a related drop in tourism.

“There has been no substantive improvement in the management of suburban runoff in Orange County, so the likelihood is, it’s going to be as bad or worse,” said Beanan, an artist and former UC Irvine administrator.

The closings attributed to sewage spills have primarily been related to seeping of raw waste from blocked lines. Activists say this points to a need for increased maintenance of aging sewer systems, as well as more inspections and enforcement actions against polluters who illegally release grease into their lines.

One point of optimism, however, is the unprecedented attention that the beach closings have generated.

San Clemente Mayor Susan Ritschel said she has seen increased interest in water quality among leaders of inland communities--the source of much of the runoff that fouls beaches.

“It is gaining momentum,” Ritschel said. “In years past, it was a small group of the environmental community that was most sincere and most aware. Now it’s becoming much more commonplace. That will benefit the coastal communities.”

On the pier at Seal Beach, children, fishermen and tourists expressed sorrow and anger at the problems of ocean water quality.

They worried most about the environmental dangers they couldn’t see or understand. Sarge Henritzy, 66, of Huntington Beach has fished off county beaches for nearly 40 years.

“Thirty years ago, there were a lot of great fish out here. They aren’t here anymore. This year in particular has been a very, very bad year for fish, and no one knows why, but the pollution is here,” he said.

Like others on the pier, Henritzy wouldn’t eat what he caught. Fishermen haven’t for years. Daniel Lopez of Montebello said he has caught halibut with lesions, and worries whether he and his daughter Theresa will be able to fish in the future.

“You think twice about where you want to take your family,” he said. “That’s why we choose to go to Orange County beaches, with the image they have of being cleaner than ones in Los Angeles. I don’t know if that’s true anymore.”

Years ago, Patricia Sandovol went to Orange County beaches every weekend. Now she rarely goes, and she won’t let her children swim in the water.

“It’s sad, especially for the children,” she said. “Animals are disappearing from the environment, and the water causes diseases.”

Times staff writer Willoughby Mariano and correspondent Monte Morin contributed to this story.