Orange County Grand Jury • 2006-2007 • Agency Response

Orange County’s Beaches:

Published: June 18, 2007 13 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 4 findings

F1
Indicator bacteria are naturally present in beach sand and therefore may be a poor predictor of human health risk.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Health Care Agency should develop a more accurate predictor of health risk and should research county beach sands to determine if bacteria are flushed from the beaches during lunar tides and whether these bacteria are pathogenic.
F2
Current testing of beach water is not timely; there is a typical 24 hour delay between the time samples are collected and the time test results are available.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Health Care Agency should develop a more timely method of water quality testing.
F3
Most dry weather beach closures are due to sewage spills.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Orange County Sanitation District and the South Orange County Wastewater Authority should confer with all Cities and Sewer Districts in the county and develop a plan to manage the aging sewer infrastructure and mitigate sewer line blockages.
F4
Most beach water bacteria come from watershed outfalls. 11 2006-2007 ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY Responses to Findings F-1 and F-2 are requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency. Responses to Finding F-3 are required from the Board of Directors of both the Orange County Sanitation District and the South Orange County Wastewater Authority. A Response to Finding F-4 is requested from The Orange County Resources and Development Management Department. RECOMMENDATIONS In accordance with California Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, each recommendation will be responded to by the government entity to which it is addressed. The responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court. Based on the findings of this report, the 2006-2007 Orange County Grand Jury makes the following recommendations:
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
RDMD should consider developing treatment facilities at creeks with the highest historical concentration of bacteria within the county.

Conclusions 1

Agency Responses 2

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.