17 million gallons of sewage floods and closes California beaches
Swimming has been banned in more than a mile of ocean, due to sewage spill at Hyperion Water Reclamation plant
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Beaches in Los Angeles have been closed due to safety concerns after some 17 million gallons of sewage spilt into Santa Monica Bay during an eight-hour leak from a water treatment plant.
The sewage was released from the Hyperion Water Reclamation plant, one of the largest treatment plants in the world, situated near Dockweiler State Beach.
Officials are investigating the incident. “I understand that the plant was able to prevent an even larger spill, but we are going to need answers about how and why this happened,” tweeted Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Ms Hahn also explained that a one- to two-mile stretch of ocean – from El Segundo Beach, south of Los Angeles International Airport, to the Dockweiler RV Park – was closed for swimming.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department, Lifeguard Division, has put red signs on beaches reading: “Beach closed for swimming. Contaminated water: contact with ocean water may cause illness”.
LA Sanitation and Environment (LASE) has since issued a statement explaining that the plant had become “inundated with overwhelming quantities of debris, causing backup of the headwork facilities. The plant’s relief system was triggered and sewage flows were controlled through use of the plant’s relief system”.
The discharge continued for eight hours, according to LASE, and accounted for 6 per cent of the plant’s daily load.
Water quality sampling is currently being conducted, and swimming will be allowed when bacteria levels are safe again. Results on the water quality are expected within 24 hours.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments