Ocean waters off Long Beach were closed to swimmers Saturday after a main sewer break, and it’s unclear when the water will be considered safe.
Dr. Cliff Okada, the city’s public health officer, ordered the temporary closure of all open coastal swimming areas, including beaches, swimming areas in bays and lagoons, after a sewage spill that may affect recreational water quality, the city announced.
Long Beach has more than six miles of public beach where water quality is monitored by health officials.
About 29,000 gallons of sewage were spilled near Livingston Drive and 2nd Street starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, the Long Beach Department of Public Utilities reported. The spill was caused by a rupture in a “water main,” a pressurized pipe used to transport sewage over flat or rising ground.
Long Beach Utilities redirected the flow of sewage with a diversion line and brought in emergency contractor Ocean Blue to assist in efforts to clean up the spill. Of the total spilled volume of 29,000 gallons, 15,000 gallons of wastewater were recovered and 14,000 gallons were released into the ocean, the city said. Repairs to the broken pipe are underway.
State law requires temporary beach closures and postings in these situations and “out of an abundance of caution,” the city said. Areas will remain closed to swimmers until recreational water quality meets state requirements.
With rain expected this weekend, water sampling will begin Monday and continue as necessary until results meet national recreational water quality standards, the city said.
Full beach closures are rare and typically only occur during significant emergencies such as sewage pipe breaks, debris fires, or dangerous weather conditions including lightning. Targeted bacterial warnings at certain beaches and rain advisories involving water runoff are more common.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Friday advised the public to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters near Ballona Creek at Dockweiler State Beach, Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey and near the Santa Monica Pier because bacteria levels exceeded health standards.
Warnings were raised at Malibu Point and Surfrider Beach, near Malibu Tower 3, as well as Avalon Beach, west of the Catalina Island Pier.
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