Tuesday July 23, 2024
Los Angeles Times —
Parts of Venice Beach and Dockweiler State Beach are closed after 15,000 gallons of sewage leaked into the ocean near Marina del Rey over the weekend, the Los Angeles County Public Health Department said.
Beachgoers are being advised to stay out of the water one mile north and one mile south of Ballona Creek until tests there over 48 hours show the water quality meets health standards. The first test was scheduled for Monday, according to the health department.
On Saturday, a broken water main pushed sand into the city sewer line, causing sewage to back up and discharge into a nearby storm drain. By the time L.A. Sanitation and Environment alerted the county health department of the issue, the sewage had been flowing for almost two hours, officials said.
Over the weekend, the boardwalk was unusually quiet, except for a few daring surfers who ignored health warnings and rode waves near the jetty, said Venice resident Scott Culbertson.