Swimming areas west of Belmont Shore are temporarily closed for water contact Thursday because of a sewage spill in San Gabriel, Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Anissa Davis said.
About 15,000 gallons of sewage spilled into Rubio Wash which leads to the Los Angeles River, according to a report received early Wednesday afternoon from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services.
A grease blockage in the San Gabriel sewer main line caused the spill, the report said.
KNX News' Nataly Tavidian spoke to Jennifer Rice Epstein, with the city of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, about the closures.
"Because the L.A. River terminates in Long Beach, any activity in the Los Angeles River will eventually flow into our waters," Epstein says. "So basically anytime it rains in Long Beach and we have, you know, a significant amount of rain, we issue a rain advisory and we advise that people don't go in the water for the following three days."
State law requires temporary closure and posting at beaches in these situations, out of an abundance of caution, until the water quality meets state requirements, Davis said.
Long Beach Health Department's Recreational Water Quality health inspection team is monitoring water quality along the affected beach sites and will continue to do so until results meet the state water quality standards, Davis said.
Signs advising people not swim will be taken down once the water is tested and it's determined it's safe enough to go in.
People can visit Longbeach.gov/beachwaterquality for updates or call the water quality hotline at 562-570-4199.
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