How to Solve O.C. Coastal Problems

* Re “Leaky Sewage Pipes a Major Factor in O.C. Coastal Woes,” Aug. 9:

How surprising! The sewage we find in our oceans originates from our dilapidated and poorly maintained sewage system. After years of public officials of all stripes avoiding any comment about the elephant in our collective living rooms, it took the excellent work of Los Angeles Times reporters to research the issue and clearly state the scope of the problem we face.

But if we have The Times, who needs all those bumbling bureaucrats? What we need is one regional authority to plan for our water supply and as the first CEO I nominate Erin Brockovich.

DON FISK

Dana Point

* I am glad to see confirmed by The Times what I have known for some time--that grease is a major cause of sewer blockages leading to sewage spills. The main source of the grease is restaurants. Wouldn’t it be a good idea if these sources of grease were regulated?

Presently, it is the individual cities’ responsibility to monitor restaurant grease traps. With a few exceptions, monitoring and enforcement by cities is lacking. Some cities in the county don’t even require the installation of grease traps by restaurants!

If the grease traps and the companies that are supposed to maintain them were permitted and inspected by a county agency on a regular basis, much of the grease would not end up in the sewers and there would be fewer beach closures.

I think most people would pay a few pennies more for a meal in a restaurant knowing that the establishment was not contributing to fouling our beaches.

ROB ISLANDER

Los Alamitos