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Public health officials today extended the closure to a portion of Will Rogers State Beach after tests confirmed that sewage was being discharged from a storm drain into the ocean. How much sewage? Approximately 9.600 gallons, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. That's a big yuck.
Even before today's announcement, Heal the Bay staff members (photos above) checked out the storm drain, located about 100 yards south of Will Rogers Lifeguard Headquarters at 15100 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. It stunk and the pollution was there for everyone to see. The beach is closed for a half-mile in each direction.
Although officials say the beach is closed, you can still swim, but at your own risk. “We are asking people to avoid entering or swimming in the ocean in the area immediately surrounding the storm drain at Will Rogers State Beach,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. He says they hope to lift the closure on Sunday at noon.
On Tuesday night, a citizen reported a foul smelling coming from the storm drain, prompting the closure on precautionary closure Wednesday.
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Of course the obvious question begs to be answered. Where is the raw sewage coming from? It is illegal to dump raw sewage into the storm drains. So where is the enforcement?
Well, it could've been washed into the storm drain somehow from a leaky/broken pipe or perhaps someone emptied their RV septic tank into the storm drain instead of a dump station. Even worse, perhaps a septic pump truck (like for houses) got turned away away at the dump station (due to a variety of factors - insurance, lack of paperwork, history of mixed wasted dumping, etc) and then just decided to dump into the storm drain.
Then of course it could be like Malibu where the septic tanks from houses (that are close to the ocean) are leaking.
Well this is just shitty.
That is a lot of water for the summer. Not a septic tank leak.
Either a truck dump or a broken pipe. I know, I know, LA's pipes are all in great shape, that doesn't make any sense.
Actually that is fairly small - if it is a 'total' and not a rate (i.e. 9600 gals per hour or day). That number sounds to me like a larger waste hauler tanker - I think your average septic hauler only holds around 1200 gallons. A small sewage lift station would probably put out 9600 gallons in about 2 hours. Yeah it's disgusting - hopefully they CAN find the source and get it figured out.
Has anyone smelled the storm drain area at Aliso Beach in Laguna? I have been there on a day when it smelled like sewage.
Always drink upstream from the herd.
--Will Rogers [from an old cowboy proverb]