PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802

2/21/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # CM:022119
Subject:
Closure Lifted for Coastal Beaches
Contact:
Nelson Kerr, Manager
Bureau of Environmental Health
Department of Health and Human Services
562.570.4170
Nelson.Kerr@longbeach.gov




Long Beach City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, has lifted the closure for all swimming areas along the open coastal beaches after consecutive lab results indicated the water in all sites, except 72nd Place, are currently in compliance with State water quality standards. There is currently an active advisory still in place for the water at 72nd Place.

Beaches were closed last week following a sewage spill that originated from the City of Los Angeles on February 14, 2019. State law requires the temporary closure of and posting at, beaches in these situations until the water quality meets State requirements.

Long Beach has approximately seven miles of public beach. To protect the safety of the public, weekly water samples are collected and tested routinely to monitor bacterial levels. The community is encouraged to pay close attention to any warning signs posted at the beach for their safety.

For the latest status on Long Beach recreational beach water quality, the public can call the Water Hotline at (562) 570-4199 or visit http://www.longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality.

About Long Beach Water Quality

Long Beach continues to improve its water quality and has seen sustained progress over the past seven years. According to the Heal the Bay 2017-2018 Beach Report Card, the City of Long Beach continues to receive excellent recreational water quality grades with 100 percent of its beaches receiving A and B grades for the summer months (April through October 2017).

Heal the Bay also grades beaches during dry winter months, which spans from November 2017 through March 2018. Eighty-seven percent of the City’s beaches during those months received A and B grades, of which two are A+’s. This is up from last year's 62 percent A and B grades. Alamitos Bay received A+ and A grades for both summer dry months and winter dry months.