Beachgoers beware - a sizable sewage spill has fouled the waters at Dockweiler State Beach, prompting the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to issue an ocean water closure from Ballona Creek to one mile south. Approximately 14,400 gallons of untreated waste was discharged, and while the flow was stemmed by the afternoon of May 9th, the health department advises against any contact with the ocean water and wet sands within the impacted areas.
The unpleasant situation began unfolding on May 8th, and by the following day, the sewage had found its way into Ballona Creek. An an effort to assure public safety, health officials will collect water samples starting May 10th, keeping the beach closure in place until subsequent testing shows bacterial levels are back to acceptable standards. For the moment, the beach remains a no-go zone.
Those planning a sunny escape to the county's beaches are urged to heed the warnings and steer clear of the contaminated zones. According to the Department of Public Health’s announcement, the closures will only be lifted when consecutive water tests indicate it's safe, putting beach plans for many locals on an indefinite pause.
Updates on beach conditions can be heard round the clock by dialing the county's beach closure hotline at 1-800-525-5662. For those, seeking more information, including a map displaying the impacted locations, a visit to the Department of Public Health's official website is recommended. In the meantime, sunbathers and swimmers will have to hold out for the green light before dipping toes in those particular sandy shores.
