Some Long Beach Beaches Temporary Closed Due to Sewage Spill

LONG BEACH, CA – Long Beach City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, ordered all open coastal swimming areas in Long Beach temporarily closed for water contact due to a sewage spill outside of Long Beach. State law requires temporary closure and posting at beaches in these situations, out of an abundance of caution, until the water quality meets State requirements. 

According to a report received on March 2 from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, approximately 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of sewage was discharged into the Los Angeles river on March 1. The sewage spill originated in Paramount and was caused by a grease clogged sewer line.

The City of Long Beach Health Department’s Environmental Health Recreational Water Quality health inspection team is monitoring water quality along the affected beach sites. Water monitoring will continue until results comply with State water quality standards. Water quality sampling analysis are performed at the Public Health Laboratory. 

Long Beach has approximately seven miles of public beach. To protect the safety of the public, weekly water samples are collected and tested routinely to monitor bacterial levels. For their safety, the community is encouraged to pay close attention to any warning signs posted at the beach. 

For the latest status on Long Beach recreational beach water quality, the public can call the Water Hotline at 562-570-4199 or visit longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality.