County posts 2 beach warnings for high bacteria

The Orange County Health Care Agency announced two warnings to

swimmers and divers at locations in West Newport.

The agency posted warning signs Thursday at Grant Street and Lancaster

Street at the Newport Slough. The two beaches abut the Santa Ana River.

The agency, which announced the warnings at 5 p.m. Thursday, put the

signs in place after discovering heightened levels of bacteria in the

water during routine testing.

The bacteria counts, which must be under state-mandated levels, are

caused by the increased presence of human or animal waste from urban

runoff.

The beach will be reopened when bacteria levels return to an

acceptable level.