Bacteria

Paul Clinton Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and the county could face sanctions if they do not reduce polluted urban runoff flowing into the Santa Ana River. During water quality meetings held earlier this month, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board told Surf City and its neighbors to clean up the river. Any blame that falls on Surf City's shoulders should be shared by inland cities, which also contribute pollution to the river, Mayor Connie Boardman said.

The beach is still contaminated. Who's guilty? We don't know. The health agencies are now focusing their attention on the Santa Ana River. They had originally exonerated the river because of some testing that they now realize was flawed. We can also ask, "Who's innocent?" There is at least one suspect that is in the clear and can be taken off the list. That suspect is the Talbert Marsh. It looks likely that some contamination has been coming down the Talbert Flood Control Channel, and the Talbert Marsh lies at the end of the Talbert Channel.

Eron Ben-Yehuda HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Beach concessionaires are split about whether officials who investigated last summer's ocean contamination could have reduced the time the shores were closed off, despite a recent report suggesting critical tests should have been performed sooner. The findings, made by a panel of experts at a meeting in Newport Beach last week, prove that officials dropped the ball by waiting more than two months during the peak tourist season before recommending swimmers return, said Mike Ali, owner of Zack's Pier Plaza and two other beach stands.

Greg Risling NEWPORT BEACH -- While Huntington Beach continues to lose thousands of surfers, swimmers and sunbathers as mysterious pollution forces continued beach closures, Newport Beach has seen a surge of visitors during the last week. Both city officials and business owners report an influx of people that may be due, in part, to the beach closures on the other side of the Santa Ana River. Although there weren't any exact figures, it appears that tourists have pushed southward -- unlike the bacteria-rich waters that have polluted the shores of Huntington Beach.

Conservationist group Heal the Bay has released its annual Beach Report Card on coastal water quality throughout the state, and experts say this year's drought may have eased bacteria levels statewide. Like Orange County in general, Huntington Beach scored well, although experts said there were no easy solutions for the few trouble spots. No Huntington Beach sites ended up on the report's "Beach Bummers" list of the 10 worst beaches in California, seven of which were in Los Angeles County.

Fountain Valley's water meets the city's public health goals, despite complaints about "hard water. " The Fountain Valley City Council approved Tuesday evening a 2010 report on the city's water quality that showed the city to have below the maximum allowable contaminant levels in radium, uranium, lead, copper, arsenic and coliform bacteria, according to the report. The city also meets all state and federal standards for drinking water, according to the report. Mayor Larry Crandall said he has heard rumbling from residents about hard water.

Orange County health officials closed 1,000 feet of coastline in Huntington State Beach on Sunday due to possible contamination. On its website, the Orange County Health Care Agency said the beach was closed near Magnolia Street in Huntington Beach because of the possible presence of “disinfected treated wastewater.” The closure prohibited swimming, surfing and diving. Scott Styles, a supervisor at the park, said health officials were planning to test the water again Sunday evening.

Angelique Flores HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The City Council voted to appropriate more money to consultants who are studying the city's urban runoff, a research project that aims to find a solution for the area's beach contamination problems. In January, the city contracted URS Greiner Woodward Clyde and Komex H20 Science Inc. to identify and eliminate bacteria in urban runoff discharges to Huntington Beach. The city amended its contract with URS Greiner Woodward Clyde to total $927,000 and with Komex H20 Science Inc. to total $514,000.

"Neglecting your pet's oral health can cause gingivitis, periodontal disease and loss of teeth. Plaque and tartar buildup can affect the tissue and structure supporting the teeth. If left untreated, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and may infect the heart, liver and kidneys, shortening your pet's life by up to five years," said veterinarian and Oxyfresh's Pet Division Leader, John Prange. Did you know that oral disease is the No. 1 health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats over age 3?

Eron Ben-Yehuda Thanksgiving holiday traffic didn't cause major headaches in either Huntington Beach or Fountain Valley, officials said. "Everything was very smooth," Huntington Beach Police Lt. Chuck Thomas said. No one was arrested for drunken driving, and no serious accidents took place, police said. At least in the cities, the streets are typically calm and quiet during holidays because so many residents leave town for vacations, Thomas said.