Elevated bacteria levels found in ocean by Santa Monica, Will Rogers, Malibu, Marina Del Rey
LOS ANGELES - Health officials have issued another advisory after elevated bacteria levels were found in the water near several Southern California beaches.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's water warning advised beachgoers to be careful of swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters around discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers.
Specifically, elevated bacteria levels were discovered at:
- Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach
- Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey
- Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
- Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach
A previous warning was issued for Avalon Beach at Catalina Island (50 feet east of the pier), but a recent sample showed that the water quality was back within state standards.
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Health officials have issued several beach advisories since the massive 17 million gallon sewage spill on July 11, but said that no sewage is currently being discharged from the Hyperion plant into the ocean and ocean waters, adding that bacterial levels often fluctuate from day to day.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Beachgoers asked to avoid water after high bacteria levels found near site of 17M gallon sewage spill
- Report on 17M gallon sewage spill blames LA County Public Health for failing to quickly notify public
- Beaches between El Segundo, Dockweiler reopen after 17M gallons of sewage spilled into ocean forced closure
Roughly 17 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the ocean on July 11, forcing health officials to close several beaches in the area for multiple days. It took health officials more than 24 hours to notify the public of the sewage spill, which County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer called, "multiple failure on top of multiple failure."
Los Angeles County Supervisors address Hyperion sewage leak
The failure to more quickly notify the public of a 17-million-gallon sewage spill that ultimately closed beaches from El Segundo to the southern end of Playa del Rey was largely the fault of a division within the Department of Public Health, according to a report discussed by county officials.
A report detailing the sewage spill blamed the county health department for failing to notify the public more quickly.
"There's no excuse for this," Ferrer told the Board of Supervisors and the public Tuesday.
The beaches ultimately reopened on July 14 after the health department reported that bacteria levels in the water were back to normal.
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