With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
More Than 6 Million Gallons Of Sewage Spills In Carson And Prompts Area Beach Closures
Los Angeles County Sanitation District crews lay out hoses at the site of the Carson sewage spill.
(
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
)
A six-to-seven million gallon sewage spill in Carson prompted the closure of beaches from Long Beach to Rancho Palos Verdes Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.
"The next priority for us is to get the street cleaned up where the sewage spill occurred," Los Angeles County Sanitation District's Bryan Langpap
told our newsroom. "And then kind of in tangent with all that, again, is to kind of monitor the waterways to make sure that there's no community nuisance or, a threat to aquatic species."
The damage was located by responding crews on 212th Street between Lynten and Moneta Ave. in Carson around 5 p.m. Thursday.
Support for LAist comes from
"The spill occurred due to a sewer collapse near the 110 northbound off-ramp to Carson Street ... We have crews working to clean the area where the spill occurred. The cleanup is expected to be completed [Friday] afternoon," read a release issued by the sanitation district.
Please click on the link for an update on the Carson sewer spill -> https://t.co/m62p2A8xCP@cityofcarson_ca @lapublichealth pic.twitter.com/lsyOu6gG49
— Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (@SanDistricts) December 31, 2021
A variety of crews, including emergency contractors and shoring and excavation personnel, have been working since Thursday evening to repair the sewer passage.
"The spilled sewage went to a nearby storm drain and then Dominguez Channel and the LA Harbor. Devices monitored for hydrogen sulfide and none was detected overnight," the release continues. "We will be working with health officials over the coming days to monitor water quality to determine when beaches are safe to reopen and assess environmental impacts."
Initially, LACSD reported no threat to public health or property due to the spill, "aside from the spilled sewage."
"A sewage spill of this magnitude is dangerous and unacceptable, and we need to understand what happened," read a statement from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. "The recent storm undoubtedly contributed to the spill, but we need infrastructure that doesn't fail when it rains. I am calling on LA County Sanitation District to do a full investigation into the cause of this spill and whether
aging or fault infrastructure was involved."
An estimated two-to-four million gallons of untreated sewage entered the Dominguez Channel, which empties into the Los Angeles Harbor, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Support for LAist comes from
The following specific beaches are shut down due to the incident, per Public Health:
- Cabrillo Beach
- Point Fermin Beach
- White Point Park Beach
- Royal Palm State Beach
- Rancho Palos Verdes Beach
Up-to-date beach conditions can be found at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/beach/. The above beaches will remain closed until tests determine that the bacteria level in the waters along the shore align with state health standards.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases. -
Distrito Catorce’s Guillermo Piñon says the team no longer reflects his community. A new mural will honor local leaders instead. -
The program is for customers in communities that may not be able to afford turf removal or water-saving upgrades. -
More than half of sales through September have been to corporate developers. Grassroots community efforts continue to work to combat the trend.
Best of LAist