Several beaches in Orange County, California, were closed May 15 after a sewer leak spilled an estimated 5,500 gallons of raw sewage into the Arroyo Seco watershed, according to the Associated Press. City health officials said the spill occurred after a debris blockage caused a storm drain to overflow into the coastal waters. Once the bacteria count has reached a safe level, a decision will be made when to reopen the beaches.
One official, Lauren Skinner, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation, told the Pasadena Star-News that bacteria levels in the Long Beach area have been normal for days.
"When we generated our report, after contacting Long Beach, we were told that it did not necessitate a beach closure," Skinner said.
According to the source, the South Pasadena City Council paid a $225,000 fine in November and agreed to fix the plumbing system at a cost of $11 million. Although the city was responsible for spilling 121,315 gallons into the area waters over the past four years, South Pasadena City Manager Sergio Gonzalez said the waters should not have been closed.
