O.C. Grand Jury Urges Better Waterway Testing

The Orange County Grand Jury on Wednesday called for improved testing for waterways contaminated by urban runoff, better public notification of health hazards and the creation of task forces to encourage protection of each regional watershed.

Though acknowledging that the county has worked to address urban runoff, “the consensus is that it’s not necessarily solving the problem,” said grand jury member Ronald Burczewski.

Orange County has 13 distinct watersheds, from creeks to flood control channels, that flow into its harbors and ocean waters. Every day, according to the grand jury report, health advisory warnings are posted on county beaches--3,877 total days of postings in 2000 alone.

Jurors recommended that the county Health Care Agency develop faster, more direct testing procedures to determine bacterial contamination and to set priorities for reducing health impacts. The only similar study on the West Coast was conducted in Santa Monica Bay in 1995.

The report also called for all advisory warnings and beach closure signs to be in English and Spanish. Other recommendations:

* The county executive office should organize a formal Watershed Management Team for each of the county’s recognized watersheds.

* The county Public Facilities and Resources Department should develop a computer database of urban runoff projects, treatment options and their effectiveness to help implement the best management practices.

* The county executive office and the county Public Facilities and Resources Department should develop a countywide water quality strategic plan.

* The county Sanitation District, Aliso Water Management Agency and the Southeast Regional Reclamation Authority should develop a plan to divert dry weather water flows from all storm drains in chronic areas of concern.