Ocean, Harbor and Bay Water Closures Due to Sewage Spills

When a known release of sewage or other harmful waste is reported to the WQ Team, the ocean, harbor or bay water areas that may be affected by the sewage discharge are immediately closed to water-contact recreational activities. The area closure is based on many factors including type of sewage (e.g., untreated, secondary treated, etc.), volume of spill, location of spill, ocean currents and tides, historical sewage spills in the area and other pertinent information. After the initial closure is established, the appropriate agencies are notified, the area is posted with closure signs, a press release is issued, the Ocean, Harbor and Bay Water Closure & Posting Telephone Hotline and Webpage are updated with the beach closure information, and daily bacterial sampling of the affected area is initiated.

The closed ocean or bay water area will be reopened or reduced in size when the contamination source has been eliminated and after two daily consecutive sampling results indicate the affected area meets the AB 411 Ocean Water-Contact Sports Standards.

The WQ Team began recording information on ocean water closures in 1987. After a significant increase in the number of ocean water closures due to sewage spills in 1998, the WQ Team started collecting detailed data on all sewage spills occurring in Orange County the following year (1999).