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Roughly 5 Million Gallons Of Spilled Sewage Shuts Down Cabrillo Beach And Long Beach
A map of the current closures and rain advisory for Los Angeles County beaches.
(
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
)
Topline:
The Cabrillo Beach area ocean waters in San Pedro, and all swimming areas in Long Beach, are closed after two separate sewage spills leaked more than 5 million gallons into the Dominguez Channel, the Compton Creek, and in the city of Commerce.
Why it matters: The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Long Beach health officials are warning people to avoid swimming, surfing, and any other contact with the water. It can make you sick, especially children and the elderly.
Why now: The first spill was reported around Rancho Dominguez, when roughly 5 million gallons went into the Dominguez Channel, which leads to the Port of Long Beach, and into the Compton Creek, which leads to the L.A. River. A second spill leaked another 40,000 gallons of sewage in Commerce, which also flows into the L.A. River. Both incidents were early Monday morning, and have since been stopped.
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The backstory: All L.A. County beaches, including Cabrillo Beach, are also under a rain advisory until at least 1 a.m. Wednesday. Long Beach’s seven miles of public beaches are also under a rain advisory, and all swimming areas around Colorado Lagoon and Alamitos Bay have been closed for separate sewage spills.
What's next: Officials will test the water quality over the next week or so until the bacteria levels meet health standards for the rain runoff and sewage spills.
Go deeper: …to learn more about how officials test the water quality.
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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.
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