KTLA 5 News / Associated Press
On December 31st, 2021, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County beaches were closed due to a sewage spill of as many as 7 million gallons of untreated wastewater. A series of late December storms brought heavy rainfall to the southern California area causing a section of the Los Angeles County-run sewage system to collapse. The collapse sent untreated wastewater to storm drains that lead to sea.
The collapse was reported on Friday, December 31st, in the city of Carson. Emergency contractors set up bypass pumps immediately, but sewage continued to make its way into the ocean according to the districts.
The sewage spill prompted closures from Huntington Beach to Rancho Palos Verdes. This also included 7 miles of beach and bayfront areas in long beach. Reopening these beaches will require water testing that shows bacteria levels that are not hazardous.