Downey sewage overflow prompts beach closures in Long Beach; warnings issued at other beaches
A blockage in a Downey sewer caused an overflow of 250,000 gallons of sewage into the Los Angeles River Thursday, prompting beaches in Long Beach to close.
Los Angeles County Sanitation District maintenance equipment malfunctioned at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, causing a sewage backup and overflow at Burns and Rives avenues, the city of Downey said in a statement.
Crews cleared the blockage at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, according to the city, stopping the sewage overflow. The public was advised to avoid the area of Rives Avenue between Burns and Stewart and Gray Road while the cleanup was underway.
Approximately 250,000 gallons of sewage reached the Los Angeles River. Beaches downstream were closed as a result.
The following beaches in Long Beach were closed to the public on Friday:
- 5th Place Beach
- 10th Place Beach
- Molino Avenue Beach
- Coronado Avenue Beach
- West side of Belmont Pier
- Prospect Avenue Beach
- Granada Avenue Beach
- 55th Place Beach
- 72nd Place Beach
For the latest updates, check the Long Beach Bureau of Environmental Health - Recreational Water Monitoring page.
Los Angeles County advised the public against swimming at other area beaches due to high bacterial counts earlier in the week.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued warnings Wednesday about high bacterial levels in the ocean water at certain beaches and cautioned the public against swimming in those areas. The beaches remain open but getting into the water is currently discouraged.
As of Wednesday, the following beach areas warnings are in effect:
- Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach.
- Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach.
- Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica.
- Pico-Kenter storm drain at Santa Monica Beach
- Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State beach.
- Strand Street extension at Santa Monica Beach.
- Mother's Beach in Marina Del Rey.