Wednesday’s sewage spill that was isolated in the underground parking structure of the Westin Long Beach hotel in Downtown is not expected to affect local beaches, Health Department officials said.
The sewer overflow was reported at 1:30PM and employees from the Long Beach Water Department responded immediately to implement a sewer bypass and stop the overflow.
“Fortunately, as far as sewage spills go, this is the optimal situation if there can be one,” Nelson Kerr, Director of Environmental Health told the Post. “The spill was completely sustained within two parking garages at the Westin.”
Because the spill did not enter city streets, it did not enter into the sewer system that drains to the ocean. Kerr also said that the cars that were parked in the garage were cleared from the lot and sanitized upon exiting and that there is no anticipated impact on the surrounding community or the city at large.
“It’s always a terrible thing to have a sewage spill, but this particular one is good as far as spills go,” said Kerr. “It was entirely contained very quickly and it is not impacting beaches. It is also being cleaned up by a certified company so we are conforatble it is being handled properly.”