Avalon Beach on Santa Catalina Island was back in business Saturday, after county health officials lifted a short-lived closure that followed a midweek sewage spill. The shutdown affected a small stretch of shoreline while crews ran tests on the ocean water and wet sand to check for contamination.
County testing cleared the water
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the closure, ordered Wednesday, covered roughly 50 yards upstream and 50 yards downstream from the discharge point. It stayed in effect until two consecutive ocean samples met state water quality standards. County officials say they only lift closures after testing confirms levels are within those standards.
Small spill, standard response
NBC Los Angeles reports county staff estimated about 300 gallons of sewage reached the water and sand. The station also reported that the department lifted the closure on Saturday, once the required back-to-back clean tests came in.
What beachgoers should know
The county maintains a recorded beach hotline at 1-800-525-5662 that offers 24-hour updates, and it publishes an interactive map of impacted locations on its beach page at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Signs will remain theposted while crews continue to monitor the shoreline, and officials advise people to steer clear of ocean water or wet sand in any nearby posted areas.
Context
While the Avalon spill was relatively small, sewage-related closures remain one of the county’s primary safeguards. In May 2024, a sewage discharge of roughly 14,400 gallons that flowed into Ballona Creek led to a lengthy shoreline closure and extensive testing. The Associated Press documented that 2024 incident and the scope of the response.
