PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach City Health Officer, Dr. Anissa Davis, ordered all swimming areas west of Belmont Pier in Long Beach temporarily closed for water contact due to a sewage spill.  State law requires temporary closure and posting at beaches in these situations, out of an abundance of caution, until the water quality meets State requirements. 

According to a report received last night from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, approximately 12,000 gallons of sewage was discharged into the Los Angeles River on Jan. 31, 2022. The sewage spill occurred in the City of Compton due to a grease blockage causing sewage to overflow from a manhole.   

The City of Long Beach Health Department’s Recreational Water Quality health inspection team is monitoring water quality along the affected beach sites. Water monitoring will continue until results comply with State water quality standards. 

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. For their safety, the community is encouraged to pay close attention to any warning signs posted at the beach. 

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

 Media inquiries can be directed to Jennifer Rice Epstein, Public Affairs Officer, Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 562.441.3590 or Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov.