Sewage Spills

Orange County health officials closed nearly half a mile of shoreline at Poche Beach on Wednesday after raw sewage tainted ocean waters. A possible line blockage caused 2,000 gallons of waste to flow out of a mobile home park on the inland side of Coast Highway and into Poche Creek, which empties into the ocean. Coastal waters 1,200 feet on either side of the creek's mouth will be off limits to swimmers until bacteria levels drop, said a spokeswoman for Orange County's Health Care Agency.

A small area of Lower Newport Bay has been closed to swimmers and divers for at least three days because of a sewage spill, officials said Tuesday. About 100 feet of beach south of West Coast Highway near Bay Shore Drive was closed about 8 a.m. after 75 gallons of raw sewage overflowed into the harbor because of a blockage caused by overgrown roots in a city sewer line, said Monica Mazur, a supervising environmental health specialist for the Orange County Health Care Agency.

For the third time this year, a south Laguna Beach sewage treatment agency has fouled Aliso Creek with raw or partially treated sewage that has forced the closure of a nearby beach. More than 1,500 gallons of partially treated waste spewed into the creek and then into the ocean when the cap from a sewer line broke Saturday morning, said David Caretto, general manager of the Aliso Water Management Agency.

A portion of Dana Point Harbor at the Harbor Patrol docks is closed to swimming and diving because of a sewage spill. A malfunction of a boat's sewage pump in the East Basin of the harbor caused the spill Tuesday, authorities said. The Orange County Health Care Agency said the area will be closed until testing shows that bacteria have returned to acceptable levels.

A sewage spill caused Orange County health officials to close part of Newport Bay to swimming and diving Wednesday. The Orange County Health Care Agency said a blocked sewage line caused a 20-gallon spill in Newport Beach. About 150 feet of the 15th Street Beach was affected. The closure will remain in effect until water-quality improves. Further information about the opening of the affected area can be obtained at www.ocbeachinfo.com.