A 3.85-mile stretch of Long Beach, well, beach from Alamitos to 72nd Place was declared unsafe and closed yesterday after a broken sewer line near Watts released a 20,000-gallon sewage spill into the Los Angeles River and ultimately, Long Beach’s waters. Water based activities in the area are prohibited until further notice.
The spill entered Compton Creek and flowed into the Los Angeles River before reaching Long Beach, and the LA County Health Department released the report at around 3:10pm yesterday. It is the third beach closure of the summer in Long Beach, and the second resulting from spills in the LA River.
The City Health Officer has ordered all open coastal beach areas closed while testing continues. The area will be re-opened when bacteria levels reach state standards for recreational activities. The City advises beachgoers to pay attention to warning signs for their safety. The Health Department’s Recrational Water Program will monitor the water quality and determine when the waters are safe.
For more information, call the Department’s Water Quality Information Line, 570.4199, or visit longbeach.gov/health and click on “Services” and then “Recreational Water Quality.”
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor