Sewage Spill Forces More Beach Closures In Long Beach

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — More recreational beach areas in Long Beach were closed Wednesday after officials determined contamination from a private sewer system spill was more widespread than initial reports indicated.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports the Long Beach Health Department has closed all beaches in the Alamitos Bay amid an early October heat wave.

The small yellow sign stuck in the sand at Mother's Beach warned "sewage contaminated ocean water may cause illness" after a spill on Sunday in the Cerritos Channel closed the beach's swimming area.

Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Mitchell Kushner said bacteriological test results showed the 1,000-gallon spill had "impacted other areas of Alamitos Bay, necessitating the closure of all recreational beaches in the Alamitos Bay."

Swimming areas in the Colorado Lagoon along with ocean-facing beaches in Long Beach remain open to the public.

One man strolling on the sand early Wednesday morning said the closures are unsurprising.

"This is not the first time and it won't be the last time," he said. "It goes on probably about 3 or 4 times a year."

City health officials will sample the water daily to determine when the beaches can be reopened.

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