5 Million Gallons Of Raw Sewage Spills Into Ocean In South Bay

SAN PEDRO, CA — Cabrillo Beach is closed for the foreseeable future due to a 5 million gallon raw sewage spill in San Pedro.

According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, the spill occurred on Monday at about 6 a.m. when a sewage discharge emptied into the Dominguez Channel, which terminates near Cabrillo Beach.

Previously, officials reported that the spill was 1 million gallons. However, the total was updated upon learning about the increased amount.

No other beaches were closed as a result of the spill, officials said.

This is the second spill in Los Angeles County in less than a week, with 47,000 gallons spilling into the ocean in Long Beach on Feb. 1. Both spills happened during heavy rain storms hitting the region, which are known to cause infrastructure challenges.

The closure of Cabrillo Beach will remain until samples of the ocean water come back with results that meet state standards for bacterial levels.

In addition to the sewage spill closure, a Rain Advisory is in effect for the entire county due to possible increases of bacteria in ocean waters.

"Ocean and bay recreational waters, especially near discharging storm drains, creeks and rivers can be contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, debris, trash, and other public health hazards from city streets and mountain areas after a rainfall," the Public Health Department said.

For the safety of the public, people were encouraged to pay close attention to any warning signs at the beach.

To view the status of LA County's recreational beach water quality, residents can visit the health department's website or call 800-525-5662.