Sewage Spill Forces Beach Closures in OC, Long Beach

A sewage spill that forced officials to shut coastal waters in Long Beach was extended, closing shore areas in Orange County on Wednesday.

Sewage from a broken pipe system entered the Los Angeles River, which carried runoff into the ocean in Long Beach, according to Long Beach city officials. The ruptured pipeline was reported around 2 p.m. on Monday and originated near 6th Street and Mission Road in Los Angeles.

In Seal Beach, the ocean water area from the opening of the San Gabriel River to the Anaheim Bay breakwater, was closed due to the sewage spill, health officials said.

The leak released about 900 gallons per minute, adding up to about 1.5 million gallons of raw sewage by Tuesday morning, according to Long Beach environmental health officials.

That spill could release about 5 million gallons by the time the pipe is repaired.

Crews were working to install a bypass around the damaged section.

It was unclear when the repairs would be complete and when the beaches would reopen.

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