EDITORIAL

It was not a good week for anyone who enjoys Newport Beach’s waters.

Yes, on Wednesday a strong swell rolled through, bringing with it big

waves for surfers who’d been suffering a several-week lull. But they

didn’t get to enjoy it because of several sewage spills that closed one

of the city’s top surf spots: the jetty, at the mouth of the Santa Ana

River.

That spot actually experienced two closings during the past days, the

first when a private line burst and the second a 1,000-gallon one that

closed a total of 2,000 feet of beach.

A third spill on Wednesday sent about 500 gallons of raw sewage into

the Newport Slough, forcing its closure as well.

That’s far too many spills and far too many closures. Newport Beach

businesses, hotels and landowners thrive because of the crystal clear

water, seven miles of beaches and the world’s largest pleasure harbor.

Huntington Beach in 1999 is all the example that’s needed of what can

happen if a city’s major attraction is lost.

There are many theories and thoughts about where urban runoff is

coming from and what keeps causing these spills. It is not important to

rehash them again. What is important is to urge Newport Beach leaders to

take the problem seriously -- as seriously as they take the El Toro

airport debate or maintaining the flight caps at John Wayne.

On those two fronts they are spending time and money lobbying the

federal government, other Orange County cities and county residents. It

is time they do the same when it comes to protecting the city’s precious

waterfront, which clearly is being polluted inland by other cities, by

sanitation facilities and by inland residents.

Such actions don’t absolve Newport-Mesa residents from also making

sure they keep the waters clean. And Newport Beach should actively work

to get the message across at home about the dangers and consequences of

polluted water.

But the city needs to look beyond its borders.

Recently, for example, leaders from Orange County’s coastal cities

attended the Orange County Coast Assn.’s annual state-of-the-environment

luncheon. Newport Beach officials should take advantage of such meetings

to hammer home their concerns and demand solutions.

After all, it isn’t just Newport Beach residents who are on the

beaches and in the water.