Sewage Spill Closes Waters At These Orange County Beaches

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Orange County officials on Saturday temporarily closed coastal water areas at Huntington Beach and Newport Beach following a large sewage spill.

In a news release, the OC Health Care Agency said the 4,000-gallon spill was caused by a roots and grease blockage of a sewer line in Costa Mesa.

The closure spans from the Talbert Channel outfall at Huntington State Beach to the projection of Grant Street in Newport Beach. The affected areas will remain closed to swimming, surfing and diving until water quality meets acceptable standards, officials said.

Response crews have already recovered about 3,000 gallons of sewage using vacuum trucks, while an estimated 1,000 gallons remain in the system, KTLA reported.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley released a statement following the spill, urging residents to follow posted signage and avoid contact with the affected waters.

"Late last night, Costa Mesa Sanitary District and our Environmental Health Water Quality teams responded quickly to a sewage spill at the Talbert Channel," Foley said. "My office continues to monitor and inquire about potential impacts to residents at the source, and will update as we learn more."

For information regarding Orange County ocean, bay, or harbor postings and closures, call 714-433-6400 or visit www.OCBeachinfo.com. To report a sewage spill, call 714-433-6419.