Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Helene Calvet last night announced that coastal waters had been deemed safe after they were closed over the weekend due to a sewage leak that occurred downtown and entered the Los Angeles River, possibly causing a health risk to anyone who came into contact with the water. Beaches have been reopened after Health Department studies indicated that bacteria levels were within state standards. The hullabaloo came after a sewage leak on Cedar Avenue caused between 400 and 1,400 gallons of sewage to enter the L.A. River. The full press release is below:
Long Beach Health Officer Reopens Open Coastal Beaches from 3rd Place to Belmont Pier After Closure Due to Sewage Spill
City Health Officer, Dr. Helene Calvet, announced today that the beach closure issued on Saturday, October 24, 2009 has been lifted after results from samples indicated bacterial levels were within state standards at all open coastal beaches. The closure was due to a sewage spill adjacent to Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. The closure affected open coastal beaches from 3rd Place to the Belmont Pier.Water quality monitoring will continue to be performed by the Health Department’s Recreational Water Quality Program on a weekly basis. Further information about the water quality in Long Beach may be obtained from the Department of Health and Human Services Water Quality Information Line (562) 570-4199, or from the Department’s website at www.longbeach.gov/health.