Water warnings removed, but more repairs scheduled for damaged pipes

The Orange County Ocean Water Protection Program agency has removed warning signs at Bayside Drive and East Bay Front, according to the agency’s Twitter feed.

The warnings, which were issued after 2,800 gallons of sewage spilled late Wednesday, were lifted about 12:30 p.m. Sunday. The warnings urged swimmers and other recreation water users to avoid the area.

The spill occurred about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday when dredging crews working in near the Balboa Yacht Club damaged a sewage pipe. Originally, city officials believed a second backup line also was damaged in the incident, but actually a valve was malfunctioning.

Diving crews were able to repair the backup line’s valve on Friday and will return Monday to work on the other pipe. From the time of the incident until about 1 p.m. Friday, crews using vactor trucks were manually removing waste from a Balboa Island station and transporting it to a Bayside Drive facility.