Raw sewage spill: Some beaches reopen in Los Angeles and Orange counties after days-long closure
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Some beaches in Los Angeles and Orange counties have reopened to water activities after a raw sewage spill in the Dominguez Channel estimated at up to 8.5 million gallons forced shutdowns for almost three days.
The Orange County Health Care Agency expanded the ocean waters forbidden for swimming to include Seal Beach's Surfside Beach and Huntington Beach's Sunset Beach over the weekend.
Beaches throughout Los Angeles County were initially closed Friday, while crews worked to clean up a sewage spill that started in the city of Carson Thursday afternoon.
BEACH CLOSURES
Health officials are asking residents to avoid swimming, surfing and playing in ocean waters at the following beaches due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards:
Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
Seal Beach
All city beaches in Long Beach
The following beaches have reopened:
Portuguese Bend in Rancho Palos Verdes
White Point at Royal Palms Beach
Willder Addition Park at Point Fermin
Outer Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro
SEWAGE SPILL
Initial estimates from the California Office of Emergency Services were that 2 to 4 million gallons of untreated sewage made its way into the Dominguez Channel Thursday. Officials updated those estimates later in the afternoon and now believe anywhere from 6 to 8 million gallons of sewage had leaked. Crews believe cleanup will be completed Friday.
This all started Thursday afternoon, after a sewer mainline failed in Carson. The channel lets out into the Los Angeles Harbor at the Port of Los Angeles.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.
Health officials are continuously monitoring the water and taking samples along the beach. California law requires beach closures in situations like this until the water meets quality standards. Until then health officials advise against going to beaches and even coming into contact with the water.
Crews in Carson discovered the spill around 3 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of 212th Street and Moneta Street. Officials say the sewer collapsed near the off-ramp from Interstate 110 to 220th Street. Crews worked throughout the night, and are still working to contain it. Officials still aren't sure what caused the sewer collapse or when the situation will be under control.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.