Warning Issued For Several LA Beaches After Sewage Spill

PLAYA DEL REY, CA — The 17 million-gallon sewage spill that closed beaches from El Segundo to the southern end of Playa del Rey is now prompting local health officials to warn beachgoers.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautioned swimmers, surfers and people playing in the ocean near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers. By early Friday, the department that an additional beach area near Hyperion exceeded state standards for bacteria in water.

Recent special ocean water sampling Wednesday determined that several beach areas near the Hyperion plant exceeded state standards for bacteria in water.

"Note that no sewage is currently being discharged from the Hyperion plant into the ocean and ocean waters," county officials said. "Bacterial levels often fluctuate from day to day and can be impacted by recent rain events."

The affected beach areas include:

• El Segundo Beach
  • Grand Avenue storm drain (Near Dockweiler Tower 60)
• Dockweiler State Beach
  • Ballona Creek (Near Dockweiler Tower 40)
  • Culver Blvd storm drain
  • Hyperion Plant outfall
  • Imperial Highway storm drain (Dockweiler Tower 56)
  • Westchester storm drain
  • World Way extension

And through Friday, the public health team will do door-to-door outreach to community members who might be impacted by the plant’s odors.

Other LA beaches are also under advisory.

"These advisories are very likely due to day-to-day fluctuations in ocean water bacteria levels," county officials said. "At this time, there is no reason to suspect these increases in beach water bacteria are due to the recent sewage discharge at Hyperion."

The other beaches under advisory:

• Avalon Beach at Catalina Island (50 feet east of the pier)
• 28th Street Extension (Manhattan Beach)
• Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu

The following beach areas sample results identified water quality levels within state standards and Thursday's warnings have been lifted:

• Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
• Montana Ave. storm drain at Santa Monica Beach (Santa Monica North Tower 8)
• Wilshire Bl. storm drain at Santa Monica Beach (Santa Monica North Tower 12)
• Temescal Canyon storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach

The Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant discharged 17 million gallons of untreated sewage through its one- and five-mile outlets on July 11.

Beaches were closed the next day, prompting questions about why it took a day to notify the public about the untreated sewage spill. Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin sent a letter to LA Sanitation and Environment last week demanding answers about the cause and impact.

"This catastrophic accident not only did great damage to our local beaches and water, but also undermined the public's trust in their government's ability to serve them and keep them safe," Galperin said.

"Residents have the right to know exactly why the sewage spill happened, its impact on the area, the cost to taxpayers and what steps will be taken to prevent another similar incident in the future," Galperin said.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 6:52 a.m. Friday throughout with new information provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

SEE MORE:

• Man Shot Dead At Westside Housing Project
• Pop-Up Vaccination Clinic Planned At Culver City Fire Station
• Authorities ID Driver Killed In Venice Car Shooting
• 68 CA Hospitals Named Best In State: U.S. News