A ruptured wastewater pipe spilled about 29,000 gallons of sewage along Belmont Shore over the weekend, forcing the area to close to the public until further notice.
Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada sent an alert out just past midnight on Saturday, roughly six hours after the spillage occurred near Livingston Drive and Second Street. As of Monday, about 15,000 gallons of sewage was recovered before reaching the ocean, while another 14,000 went into the ocean.
Open coastal swimming areas, beaches, bays and lagoons will all remain closed until the water is cleared via testing. The Long Beach Health Department’s Recreational Water Quality Environmental Health Specialists began sampling the waters Monday, according to a public statement. The team will continue to test the water until it complies with State standards.
At this time, Long Beach Utilities has rerouted the flow of wastewater using a bypass line. The City’s contractor Ocean Blue was also tasked to assist with spill cleanup efforts. Long Beach Utilities has called in their emergency contractor to begin repairs on the force main break.
For the latest status on Long Beach recreational beach water quality, the public may call the Water Hotline at 562-570-4199 or visit longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality.
