Long Beach closes coastal swimming areas after sewage spill

Long Beach health officials closed all coastal swimming areas until further notice after about 27,000 gallons of sewage spilled Friday evening, according to NBC Los Angeles. The closures were announced Saturday.

The swimming areas cannot reopen until water samples meet state recreational water standards. Specialists will monitor coastal water quality while cleanup efforts proceed.

The spill occurred about 6:30 p.m. Friday near Livingston Drive and 2nd Street, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The city attributed the release to a break in a force main, a pressurized pipe used to carry wastewater, according to the report.

Long Beach Utilities redirected wastewater through a bypass line. The city also hired Ocean Blue Environmental to assist with cleanup, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The closure covers all coastal swimming areas in Long Beach. Water samples must meet state standards for recreational use before those areas can reopen, according to the report.

The reported restrictions apply to Long Beach coastal swimming areas; NBC Los Angeles did not report contamination or beach closures in Orange County.