LA River Sewage Spill Shuts Down Beaches

LOS ANGELES, CA — Thousands of gallons of sewage spilled into the Los Angeles River, forcing the closure of swimming beaches in Long Beach, authorities announced Wednesday.

The spill occurred in the Paramount area on Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. A grease-clogged sewer line caused 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of sewage to pour into the river, which then carried the untreated sewage out to the ocean in Long Beach.

The risk of elevated bacteria levels promoted officials to post notices up and down the Long Beach coastline warning swimmers to stay out of the water. The beaches will remain closed until the water meets state health requirements, Long Beach city officials said.

Health inspectors team will monitor the water quality in the meantime. The city has a Water Hotline set yo at 562-570-4199 for water quality updates as well as a website.