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.
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.
We need your support.
Subcribe to the Watchdog today.
The Long Beach Watchdog is owned by journalists, and paid for by readers like you. If independent, local reporting like the story you just read is important to you, support our work by becoming a subscriber.
