Stretch of Doheny State Beach Reopens After Sewage Spill

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

A portion of Doheny State Beach has reopened after sewage spilled into the ocean through San Juan Creek earlier this month, though bacterial levels continue to exceed health standards, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency.

The closure was reduced to a “water warning” on March 25. The Orange County Health Care Agency warns that coming in contact with the ocean water 500 feet upcoast and 500 feet downcoast of the San Juan Creek outfall at Doheny State Beach may cause illness.

According to the office of Orange County Fifth District Board Supervisor Katrina Foley, the station at San Juan Creek is sampled at least weekly by the South Orange County Wastewater Authority. However, Foley’s office noted that this week’s sample will be dependent on the weather.

On March 15, approximately 4,000 gallons of sewage was spilled, closing access to the ocean-water area 1,500 feet upcoast and 1,500 feet downcoast of the outfall.

On the day of the sewage spill, the

Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) received an alarm on one of the manholes in San Juan Capistrano alerting the water district to high water levels.

“Crews proactively responded to see what was going on, and they decided to