A sewage line near Magnolia and Daisy Avenue overflowed this morning, entering the storm system and eventually the Los Angeles River, forcing City Health Officer Dr. Helene Calvet to issue the closure of 3.5 miles of local beaches.
A grease blockage in the line caused the spill, which discharged more than 17,000 gallons of raw sewage into the L.A. River. The river flows directly onto local coastal beaches. Dr. Calvet recommends against all recreational activity near the beaches, to avoid serious illness from exposure to untreated sewage.
The Health Department will continue to monitor water content and determine when beaches will be reopened.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor