10,000-Gallon Raw Sewage Spill Shutters Venice Beach

VENICE, CA — Approximately 10,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Los Angeles waters on Thursday, causing county officials to shutter nearby impacted swimming areas, including a section of Venice Beach.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the cause of the spill was a blockage in a wastewater line, which caused untreated sewage to enter the storm drain at the corner of Slauson and La Cienega Boulevard.

Due to the spill, Charley Beach, Venice Beach half a mile north of Ballona Creek and Dockweiler State Beach half a mile south of Ballona Creek were closed.

Since the spill, the wastewater line has been stopped and the immediate area was cleaned.

No timeline was provided for when beaches were expected to reopen following the spill, but officials said water samples will be taken and tested to monitor bacterial levels. Once bacterial levels meet state standards for safety, beaches will reopen.

This spill was one of many in Los Angeles County in one year. In September 2022 beaches in Palos Verdes Estates, Torrance and Redondo Beach were shut down due to a 5,000-gallon spill. Beaches in Marina del Rey and Venice were also shut down in January after a spill of 64,000 gallons of raw sewage caused by a blocked main line.

In June, there were three sewage spills within the county in just four days that totaled more than 85,000 gallons of sewage that made its way into ocean waters.

How long the beaches are closed will depend on the results of the daily water sample tests according to the health department. Beach closure signs will be posted until water conditions are found to be safe.