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Heal the Bay

At least 9,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the Los Angeles River over the weekend prompted Long Beach to warn people to stay out of the ocean. After learning of the spill Monday, Long Beach health officials closed the water at all of its beaches and swimming areas west of the Belmont Pier, according to a bulletin from the city. The spill happened in the City of Commerce around 1 p.m. Sunday, according to Nelson Kerr, the city's Environmental Health Bureau manager. "There was a main sewage line up in the city of Commerce that was blocked by tree roots and that caused the sewage to back up though a manhole cover in the middle of the street," Kerr said. Even thought that happened 17 miles away from Long Beach, the sewage poured into a storm drain that eventually emptied into the Los Angles River. Kerr said 9,000 gallons is relatively small for a sewage spill, but health officials prefer to exercise caution with anything approaching 10,000 gallons, so authorities opted to close the broad swath of Long Beach shoreline. The water could reopen as soon as tomorrow afternoon, but, Kerr cautioned, "That's the best case." If testing finds evidence of contamination, the areas will stay closed until they meet state water-quality standards, he said.
Posted inNews

Report ranks beach near Belmont Pier as fourth worst in state for water quality

Avatar photoby Kelly PuenteJun 26, 2019Jul 12, 2019

Long Beach City Beach at Coronado Avenue—located just west of the Belmont Pier, near a storm drain—was rated fourth worst as it made its first-ever appearance on the Beach Bummer List.

beach closed
Posted inHealth

Lack of Rain Improves Southern California Beaches, New Heal the Bay Report Says

Avatar photo by Stephanie Rivera Jun 13, 2018
Posted inCity

Heal The Bay Annual Report Shows Long Beach Water Grades Still Dependent on Wet, Dry Weather

Avatar photo by Jason Ruiz Jun 15, 2017
rosie
Posted inNews

Heal the Bay Introduces New Tool to Determine Water Quality at Select Beaches, Including Long Beach

Avatar photo by Stephanie Rivera Aug 26, 2016
la-river-sepulveda-basin-large
Posted inHealth

Heal the Bay Report Reveals High Bacteria Levels in Parts of LA River

Avatar photo by Stephanie Rivera Jul 29, 2016
rosie
Posted inNews

93 Percent of Long Beach Coastline Receives A and B Grades From Heal The Bay

Avatar photo by Jason Ruiz May 26, 2016
rosie
Posted inCity

Summer Report Card Shows 90% of Beaches Earned “A” and “B” Scores

Avatar photo by Sarah Bennett Sep 17, 2013
Posted inNews

Long Beach Waters Continue to Improve According to Heal the Bay

Avatar photo by Brian Addison May 27, 2013
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