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City closes all beaches following 10,500-gallon sewage spill in Rowland Heights

The state-mandated closure follows a city advisory that was already asking people to avoid swimming in the ocean for three days following the recent rains.

City closes all beaches following 10,500-gallon sewage spill in Rowland Heights
People enjoy the sand and water at Granada Beach in Long Beach Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. Photo by Brandon Richardson.

All coastal swimming areas in Long Beach will be temporarily closed following a sewage spill, city health officials said late Thursday night.

The sewage spill occurred in Rowland Heights after a grease accumulation caused a main sewer line to overflow, leading to a spill of about 10,500 gallons of sewage, said city health officials.

Though the location of the spill is more than 30 miles away from Long Beach, the sewage will eventually make its way to local shores by way of the San Gabriel River, according to city Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis.

The closure is required by state law until the water quality at the beaches meets state requirements, health officials said.

Following the closure, city workers began posting signs along the waterfront to alert beach-goers, according to the city Health Department. The department's Recreational Water Quality health inspection team will monitor water quality along the beaches until the results meet the state water quality standards, according to Davis.

A rain advisory, also issued by Davis, was already in effect when the spill occurred. That advisory recommends that people avoid swimming at local beaches for three days following the rains this week.

Residents can call the city's water hotline at 562-570-4199 or visit longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality for the current water quality measured at local beaches.

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Anthony Pignataro is an editor at Long Beach Watchdog. If this work is important to you, please consider thanking him.

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