L.A. County lifts swimming ban around Dockweiler and El Segundo beaches after major sewage discharge Leila Miller © (Cassy Cohen / Los Angeles Times) An emergency discharge of 17 million gallons of sewage at the Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey temporarily closed swimming by El Segundo Beach and Dockweiler State Beach. (Cassy Cohen / Los Angeles Times)
Los Angeles County public health officials late Wednesday lifted restrictions on swimming around El Segundo Beach and Dockweiler State Beach that were put in place after an emergency discharge of 17 million gallons of sewage Sunday night raised concerns about contamination.
In a news release, the county Department of Public Health said it had authorized the reopenings after results from ocean water samples collected over the last two days met state standards for water quality.
Des millions de litres d eaux usées ont été déversées dans la baie de Los Angeles
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El Segundo and Dockweiler Beaches Reopened Following Sewage Spill
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By Bill Galluccio
Photo: Getty Images
Miles of beaches across Southern California were closed down after a massive sewage spill at the largest water treatment plant in Los Angeles. Officials said that a power outage caused 17-million gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into Santa Monica Bay.
The spill forced officials to shut down a four-mile section of the beach from El Segundo to the southern end of Playa del Rey while authorities test the bacteria levels in the water. The affected beaches remain closed until water samples are confirmed negative for elevated bacteria. The testing results are expected to be available within 24 hours. Beach users are advised to stay out of the water until the advisory is removed, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement.