Orange County Grand Jury
• 1999-2000
• Agency Response
“testing the Waters”:
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 5 findings
F1
Since AB411 went into effect in 1999, the workload in the water-quality testing facility at the Orange County Public Health Lab has more than doubled. Even though one additional employee was hired, the Lab is currently staffed to accomplish regulatory testing only. Requests to assist other County agencies’ needs for water testing have had to be refused, and there is no staff time available to conduct research and development or to evaluate any promising new testing procedures. A response to Finding 1 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
An additional lead microbiologist experienced in program development, management, and research evaluation be added to the staff at the Orange County Public Health Lab to conduct research and development and to work in conjunction with other agencies in applying new promising testing procedures. A response to Recommendation 1 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
F2
There is no staff time available at the Orange County Public Health Lab to establish a source-tracking database of the fecal-indicator bacteria of local warm-blooded hosts in Orange County. County officials are hampered in their ability to respond effectively during pollution events. A response to Finding 2 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
An experienced microbiologist be added to the staff at the Orange County Public Health Lab to develop a source-tracking database of fecal-isolates common to the Orange County population of warm-blooded animals, to enable public-health officials to more quickly identify the sources of water pollution. A response to Recommendation 2 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
F3
Raw test-data from the Orange County Public Health Lab and from the three sanitation districts is transmitted by fax to the Health Care Agency/Environmental Health Division, where the data is typed into a series of spreadsheets. There is no on-staff analyst to help with the analysis of test data and thus to facilitate health officers’ decisions whether to post or close or re-open County beaches. A response to Finding 3 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
An analyst be added to the staff of the Environmental Health Division to help analyze ocean-water test data emanating from the Public Health Lab and the sanitation districts. A response to Recommendation 3 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
F4
Existing information systems linking the Public Health Lab and the Health Care Agency are outmoded. A response to Finding 4 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The appropriate information systems (data-handling and statistical-analysis technology) be installed in the Public Health Lab and the Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency in order that health officials are better able to evaluate and act decisively during future pollution events. A response to Recommendation 4 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency.
F5
Information systems that the Health Care Agency uses to advise the public are inadequate, so information regarding beach postings and closures and beach re-openings is not easily accessible on the Agency’s website. Information available to the public is not always current or accurate. A response to Finding 5 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency. 9
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Up-do-date information systems be added to the Health Care Agency’s Information Technology Division to help ensure that the Agency’s website provides the most current beach closure, posting, and beach re-opening information available. A response to Recommendation 5 is required from the Board of Supervisors and requested from the Orange County Health Care Agency. 10
Commendations 1
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CM1To the Orange County Public Health Lab for its “testing of the waters” under pressured conditions of new state legislation. To Public Health and Environmental Health staff for their dutiful adherence to the law on beach advisories, in the face of immense pressures. To the Orange County Sanitation District for its cooperative leadership during the “Event” of summer 1999. To Dr. Jack and his wife Nancy Skinner for their long devotion to water-quality issues in Orange County. To Pam Winters for permission to reprint her futuristic cartoon on ocean-water quality. To Dr. Stanley Grant for his cutting-edge research on the water-quality of the Talbert Marsh. 11