SEWAGE SPILL RESPONSE FALLS SHORT AUDIT FINDS COUNTY LAX ON RECORDS, REACTION.

Byline: TROY ANDERSON Staff Writer

Los Angeles County officials have failed to keep records or act quickly to protect public health in more than 90 percent of 208 sewage spills in the Santa Monica Bay Watershed in the past three years, officials said Wednesday.

County auditors reviewing spills since January 2002 found records did not exist for 189 of 208 spills that poured nearly 12 million gallons of raw sewage from wastewater treatment systems into the bay.

The auditors also could not find records that the county Department of Public Health's Environmental Health Program was notified in many instances and, in the case of the 189 spills, could find no record of cleanup or efforts to notify the public.

``This investigation revealed a number of alarming breakdowns,'' county Supervisor Don Knabe said. ``That no evidence exists as to whatever happened to 9.7 million gallons of raw sewage over a 55-month period is abhorrent.''

The findings are part of a widespread investigation Knabe launched last year after sewage spills along the coast raised questions about notification procedures.

While no specific cases of health problems have been linked to the spills, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council said 1.5 million Southern Californians get sick each year from swimming in water contaminated with sewage and storm-water runoff.

The investigation was limited to spills of 1,000 gallons or more within the Santa Monica Bay Watershed from January 2002 through July. The watershed encompasses coastal areas from the Palos Verdes Peninsula north through Malibu and inland to the San Diego Freeway.

During the period investigated, the majority of undocumented spills -- 148 -- occurred in wastewater systems controlled by the city of Los Angeles.

In one instance, auditors said in August, a sewage pumping station in Culver City failed and caused sewage to bubble up through manholes. Workers diverted 22,300 gallons into the storm drain system that flows into Ballona Creek.

The county's public health officer was not notified until more than 48 hours later.

``State law requires that in the event of a sewage spill that the beach needs to be closed. In this report, only 2.4 percent of spills resulted in beach closures,'' said Mark Gold, executive director of Heal the Bay.

``If the health department is finding out about a spill two days later, that is completely unacceptable. On any spill, they should find out within two hours.''

Rita L. Robinson, the city's Bureau of Sanitation director, said the city has reduced sewer overflows by more than 70 percent since fiscal year 2001-02.

This month, the California Water Resources Control Board also implemented new waste-discharge requirements.

``The city is in full compliance with all of these requirements, including reporting protocols,'' Robinson said.

Department of Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding said the department has kept complete records whenever it has been notified of a spill.

``But we just have not been notified in many cases,'' Fielding said.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Knabe said, he will formally introduce reforms aimed at improving the reporting and monitoring process.

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

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