Days of Sun, Surf--and Sewage

* Re “Researchers Go With the Flow,” May 2:

Since last year, I have been reading stories about the pollution problem in Huntington Beach with great interest.

I am one of the control group specimens that surfs in the ocean adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier. According to last year’s unsubstantiated testing, the pollution source is the Talbert Marsh.

Recently, in two attempts to track the pollution plume, USC scientists inserted enough magenta dye into the Talbert Marsh outflow to make any “deadhead” proud.

Was the pollution there before last year’s mandatory testing? A 1997 law requires the Department of Health Services to adopt regulations requiring testing for microbiological contamination.

The first samples were tested in April 1999 and suddenly we have a “documented” pollution problem. Duh!

Ask any surfer. We believe that we’ve always had a pollution problem in Huntington Beach. Have you ever walked along the tide line and smelled the stench?

Ask any surfer if the water tasted bad or if they have contracted sinusitis or diarrhea after a surf session. Fun stuff. I think we have been sheltered by ignorance all these years until scientists nurtured the coliform cultures and exclaimed, “Eureka, we have sewage!”

With the earth being overdeveloped, overpopulated and undermaintained, I think the sewage has found us.

DENNIS SATO

Huntington Beach

* Re “Cities Seeking a Cure for Beach Pollution,” April 16:

While it’s depressing to read the stories about beach pollution, it’s worse to walk daily at “baby beach” in the Dana Point Marina and see all the toddlers walking into the murky water, despite the posted signs about the problem.

I saw a busload of kids bound for the Dana Point Marine Institute jump into the water, a few up to their waists. The teachers were horrified when we pointed out the poorly posted signs.

So if the beaches are really polluted, more is needed than just signs that are hard to see or understand unless we don’t mind the onset of fever, diarrhea and whatever else comes to these children.

ROBERT SNYDER

Laguna Beach