Coastal waters in Long Beach are open after sewage leak dissipates

Long Beach has reopened all of its beaches just in time for a sweltering weekend. 

Health officials say testing has confirmed the city's coastal waters are free of the bacteria they'd found after a massive sewage spill earlier in the week.

All the city's beaches are now open, Long Beach Health Department spokesman Nelson Kerr said. 

"This is the second consecutive clean test that we've received and that, coupled with the time that has elapsed since the spill has been shut down, makes us feel fairly comfortable — very comfortable I should say — reopening our beaches," Kerr said.

Around 2.4 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the L.A. River from a broken pipeline on Monday and made its way to Long Beach, prompting officials to shut access to the waters down. 

Kerr said the health department will continue testing the area for any abnormalities, as it regularly does, but he added he doesn't expect any lingering detritus to emerge from the L.A. River.

"It's been several days and mother nature has a beautiful way of clearing these spills out," he said, "so I'm comfortable with opening the beach."

You can find updates on Long Beach's coastal water quality by checking their website or calling 562-570-4119.