Sewage spill closes all Long Beach coastal swimming areas

LONG BEACH, Calif. (CNS) -- All beaches remained closed in Long Beach Sunday after a massive sewage spill from a ruptured pipe sent almost 30,000 gallons of wastewater toward the sea.

All six miles of open coastal beaches, bay swimming areas and lagoons in the city were closed and remained so Sunday after the discharge of about 29,000 gallons of sewage at about 6:30 p.m. Friday near Livingston Drive and Second Street, according to the Long Beach Utilities Department.

About half of the foul waste was captured before it reached the ocean.

The cause was believed to be a force main break in a pressurized pipe with wastewater, city health officials said. The spill was not related to the weekend rainstorm.

The widespread closure was ordered by City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada until the recreational water quality meets state requirements, officials said.

Efforts were underway to fix the pipe and clean up the spill.

"Sampling will begin on Monday ... and continue as needed until results comply with state standards," according to a statement issued by the city on Saturday.

Long Beach Utilities rerouted the flow of wastewater using a bypass line, and the city's contractor Ocean Blue was assisting with the cleanup.