Seal Beach Closed After 100,000 Gallons of Sewage Are Detected

SEAL BEACH —  An estimated 100,000 gallons of untreated sewage poured onto the city’s beach from the San Gabriel River on Wednesday, causing city officials to shut the beach down at least until Saturday.

The beach was closed for 72 hours at 5 p.m. from First Street to the Seal Beach Pier after raw sewage was detected drifting in the San Gabriel River, city officials said.

“It’s a shame. It’s an absolute shame,” said Seal Beach City Manager Keith Till.

Officials believe the sewage came from the general area of the City of Industry. The cause of the spill was undetermined late Wednesday.

Officials with the Los Angeles County sanitation districts told Orange County public health officials that sewage had somehow been released into the San Gabriel River, Till said.

However, he said, they were not specific about the cause.

Orange County inspectors subsequently notified Seal Beach officials and recommended that the beach be closed for the next several days while health officials conduct water tests.

Dr. Gordon LaBedz, spokesman for the Surfrider Foundation, a coastal environmental group, called 100,000 gallons of sewage inconsequential when compared to the massive urban runoff caused by major storms like the one this week.

Till said the beach averages about one spill a year.

“That helps put it into perspective, but it doesn’t make it any more acceptable,” Till said. “It’s disgusting, let’s face it.”

A handful of swimmers were at the beach at the time of the closure and were told to leave, Till said.

The health department warned that levels of bacteria can rise in ocean waters adjacent to storm drains, creeks and rivers during and after storms. Officials advised that swimmers should avoid contact with any runoff from the beach for three days after rains cease.

“Anyone who swims or surfs after a storm like this is just plain uninformed,” LaBedz said.