Support for LAist comes from
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Stay Connected
Audience-funded nonprofit news
Listen

Share This

Climate & Environment

Beaches closed after 15,000 gallon of sewage spilled into Ballona Creek

Two people in fatigues stand on the beach where a red sign warns: Beach Closed For Swimming. Contaminated Water.
U.S. Army National Guard members look at the water at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey on July 13, 2021, next to a sign indicating that the beach is closed to swimming after a sewage spill.
(
FREDERIC J. BROWN
/
AFP via Getty Images
)

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 . 

Topline:

County health officials have closed a stretch of ocean near Ballona Creek after about 15,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the waterway on Saturday afternoon. They're warning people visiting the affected areas to avoid the water and wet sand.

Beaches impacted: The areas extending one mile north and one mile south of Ballona Creek have been closed, including Playa Del Rey Beach and the southern part of Venice Beach.

How long is the closure: The closure is in place for at least 48 hours and until bacterial levels of the water meet health standards.

Support for LAist comes from

The backstory: According to LA City Sanitation, the cause of the sewage discharge was a broken water main that pushed sand into the sewer.

What's next: On Monday, the Department of Public Health will start conduct water sampling.

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
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist