Interim City Health Officer, Mauro Torno announced yesterday that the beach closure affecting Long Beach’s open coastal beaches west of Belmont Pier has been lifted following laboratory tests confirming bacteria levels at all sampling locations are within State standards. Samples were collected along the entire open coastline on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Both sets of sample results showed no indication of contamination from the spill.
The Health Department collected water samples along the open coastline following the spill, which occurred on Saturday afternoon. The spill, estimated at 5,500 gallons, was due to a blockage in a Los Angeles City controlled line. As a point of clarification, the spill originated in the City of Los Angeles, not South Pasadena as originally reported. The spill entered the Los Angeles River, which empties into Long Beach waters approximately 30 miles away.
State Regulations require the Health Officer to close, post and test beaches if there is a suspected sewage spill in waters adjacent to any public beach. Beaches must remain closed until the water is tested and it is demonstrated to be within State standards.
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 www.longbeach.gov/health.