logo
Long stretch of Laguna Beach closed after 465,000-gallon sewage spill

Long stretch of Laguna Beach closed after 465,000-gallon sewage spill

Yahoo15-01-2025

The coastal waters off Laguna Beach between Treasure Island and Table Rock at Aliso Beach have been closed due to a sewage spill, Orange County health authorities confirmed Tuesday evening.
Roughly 465,000 gallons of sewage spilled due to a break in a main sewer line near Laguna Niguel Regional Park, the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Environmental Health Services said. An undetermined portion of that sewage seeped into nearby beaches.
Although the sewer line breach has since been patched, area beaches remained closed to activities that include swimming, surfing and diving. The waters will remain closed until conditions improve, according to Orange County officials.
"I urge OC residents, visitors, and tourists to heed public health experts' warnings and avoid the closed beaches in Laguna while the @ochealth tests water quality," Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley posted on X.
The spill is the second to hit the county in as many months.
In December, the coastal area around Salt Creek in Dana Point was closed after 3,375 gallons of sewage spilled into the sea.
Then, too, a sewage line break was the culprit.
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

KSCS issues PSA regarding Tick-Borne Disease
KSCS issues PSA regarding Tick-Borne Disease

Hamilton Spectator

time14 hours ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

KSCS issues PSA regarding Tick-Borne Disease

Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia'takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) is urging residents to take precautions during outdoor activities in the coming weeks, as tick populations continue to spread across southern Quebec. The PSA comes as seasonal changes and warm weather drives more people outside which increases the likelihood of a tick encounter among residents. Mark Horne, Team Leader of Environmental Health Services at KSCS, advised community members to remain especially vigilant while hiking, camping and hunting. 'The biggest risks are in deeper forested areas,' Horne said. 'That's where ticks are more likely to live and latch onto people.' KSCS warned residents to be on the lookout for blacklegged ticks specifically, which are known to carry several dangerous diseases, including Lyme disease. Horne warned that anyone experiencing a fever, headache, stiff neck, fatigue, muscle aches and or bullseye-shaped rashes after a tick bite should seek medical attention immediately. 'The sooner people can recognize these symptoms, the better their chances of getting treated quickly,' said Horne. The advisory follows reports from several local health authorities that the range of multiple tick species, including the blacklegged tick, have been expanding into previously uninhabited regions. Professor Manisha Kulkarni, Scientific Director of the Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network, attributed this spread of tick populations to climate change and disruptions in local ecosystems. '[Climate change] is causing a longer warm period between the spring and fall when ticks are active,' Kulkarni said. 'They have more opportunity to find a host to feed on and then they're able to more successfully reproduce and have larger populations.' KSCS raised the concern that Kahnawà:ke's location near deep forests and the St. Lawrence River could make it the epicenter of future tick outbreaks. Horne reassured residents that, with the proper education and precaution, the risk of tick exposure and Lyme disease in Kahnawà:ke remains low. However, Kulkarni warned that this could change across Canada in the coming years. 'As tick populations expand into new regions, more and more people are going to be exposed to ticks, and will be at risk of Lyme disease,' Kulkarni said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

Why Mosquitoes Are Getting More Dangerous—And What You Can Do About It
Why Mosquitoes Are Getting More Dangerous—And What You Can Do About It

Yahoo

time05-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Why Mosquitoes Are Getting More Dangerous—And What You Can Do About It

Texas officials are warning residents to brace themselves—not for hurricanes or heatwaves, but for something far smaller and deadlier: mosquitoes. Thanks to recent storms and rising global temperatures, health officials say mosquito season is arriving early, lasting longer, and becoming far more dangerous, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Experts are sounding the alarm as conditions across the South, from Texas to Florida, create a perfect breeding ground for the so-called deadliest animal on the planet. 'Mosquito seasons are running longer than before,' said Marcel Elizondo, head of Austin's Environmental Health Services division. 'We're seeing more standing water, more heat, and more ideal conditions for mosquito reproduction.' That's bad news when you consider what mosquitoes actually bring with them. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, mosquitoes kill over 1 million people a year worldwide, not directly, but by spreading devastating diseases like malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile. Malaria alone is responsible for more than 600,000 preventable deaths annually, and U.S. cases of West Nile and Zika are climbing in southern states. "Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on the planet," Bethany Bolling, who leads virus testing for the Texas Department of State Health Services, told KAXN. Climate change is supercharging the threat. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, warmer temperatures speed up mosquito lifecycles, increase biting rates, and accelerate the disease incubation process inside the insect. Add in flooding and standing water from spring storms, and you've got a perfect storm. What can you do? Public health officials recommend draining standing water from gutters, buckets, and flower pots, fixing leaks, and treating ponds with mosquito dunks. If you're hiking or camping, DEET-based repellents and full-coverage clothing are your best bet. This isn't just about comfort. It's about stopping a silent killer from getting louder and protecting your health while enjoying the Mosquitoes Are Getting More Dangerous—And What You Can Do About It first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2025

Health officials sound alarm as 'deadliest animal on the planet' spreads across southern US — here's what you need to know
Health officials sound alarm as 'deadliest animal on the planet' spreads across southern US — here's what you need to know

Yahoo

time05-06-2025

  • Yahoo

Health officials sound alarm as 'deadliest animal on the planet' spreads across southern US — here's what you need to know

Officials in Texas have sounded the alarm after recent storms left prime breeding conditions just in time for peak mosquito season, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Local experts are particularly concerned about the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile and Zika. Already facing an uphill battle as rising global temperatures expand peak mosquito season beyond its traditional dates, Texas officials in charge of managing mosquito populations now must combat high levels of standing water and hot, humid conditions perfect for mosquito reproduction, per the American-Statesman. "We've seen the weather changing over the years here in Austin, and as a result, we've seen mosquito seasons running longer than before," Marcel Elizondo, chief of Austin's Environmental Health Services division, said in a statement. Mosquitoes are an annoyance for some; for others, they can be deadly. According to the American Mosquito Control Association, over 1 million people around the world die every single year from mosquito-borne diseases. "Mosquitos are the deadliest animals on the planet," Bethany Bolling, who oversees mosquito virus testing at the Texas Department of State Health Services, told KXAN. Mosquitoes transmit disease through their bites, spreading deadly illnesses like malaria and dengue in addition to West Nile and Zika, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Malaria alone is responsible for over 600,000 preventable deaths annually. Mosquitoes are a prime example of the negative impacts that rising global temperatures have on human health. In addition to hotter temperatures, changes in weather patterns are causing increased rainfall in certain areas, creating the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rising temperatures can influence the way mosquitoes spread disease in other ways, too. "Studies show that warmer temperatures associated with climate change can accelerate mosquito development, biting rates, and the incubation of the disease within a mosquito," according to the EPA. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While public health officials monitor mosquito populations and test breeding grounds for diseases like West Nile, there are several things that you can do to help protect yourself and your family. First, try to eliminate all standing water, as that is the primary breeding ground for mosquitoes. This includes places like clogged gutters, plant saucers, buckets, and toys, according to Austin Public Health. If you have bird baths or other outdoor water for animals, make sure to change it at least once a week to prevent mosquitoes from developing. Next, make sure to repair all leaky faucets and pipes, as these can provide sources of the moisture mosquitoes need to reproduce. Similarly, if you have a rainwater cistern, make sure it is properly sealed to prevent mosquitoes from entering. Finally, if you have permanent standing water on your property, such as a pond, you can purchase a mosquito dunk, which contains a biological larvicide that will kill young mosquitoes, per Austin Public Health. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store