If you were planning on taking the family to the beaches of Long Beach this weekend, you might be better off looking for fun on other beaches, as authorities say this area is contaminated with sewage.
“Those of us who can’t go on holiday don’t have the money for it, it’s our nature, so it’s very sad that they let us down,” said Silvia Palomera, a resident of Long Beach.
The closure is due to contamination.
The agency responsible for converting waste into recycled water said it was investigating what happened on Thursday morning when during regular maintenance of equipment a drainage failure caused water to spill which dumped 250,000 gallons onto the streets of Downey.
“Yesterday it smelled like turtle water and I didn’t know why and realized it was toxic feces,” Downey resident Adriana Schoening said.
“Yesterday I was at home, I started to smell a very strong smell so strong that I started to feel headaches and nausea,” said Downey resident Jorge Torres.
The contaminated water passed into the Los Angeles River and from there it led to the sea.
Attorney Patricia Oliver said that to date there has been no type of litigation or lawsuit, but that when spills of this type do occur, investigations will be carried out by the water department and by the affected communities who have to put up with this horrible smell.
Crews are 99% complete with cleanup work in the town of Downey, but the effects of the sewage are only just beginning on the beach.
Authorities have put up ‘beaches closed’ signs but they say they are not enough and those who have entered the water are being visited by lifeguards who have had to warn them they must get out as the water is contaminated .
Officials said they would test the seawater to determine when there is no longer a health hazard.
Meanwhile, some are content to bask in the sun, but others who have come hoping to take a dip in the Pacific walk with their heads down and set off in search of other beaches.