A report put much of the blame for the response to the massive raw sewage spill at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in the lap of the Los Angeles County Health Department.
The massive spill closed beaches from El Segundo to Playa del Rey.
The report found there were multiple failures in communication between L.A. city and county agencies that prolonged the closure of beaches after the sewage spill.
County chief lifeguard Fernando Boiteux told the supervisors his staff had to learn of the spill by seeing signs posted at the beaches.
“We initially found out from our lifeguard personnel,” said Boiteux.
“They saw a member of public health putting a sign in two of the lifeguard stations by El Segundo and another one called 47 at Dockweiler Beach.”
Though the trash began to block the system around 2 p.m. on July 11 and most employees were evacuated from the plant around 5:30 p.m. the same day, it was not until around 10 a.m. the next day that lifeguards started noticing beach closure signs.
There was not a public notification until 5:30 p.m. on July 12.
First District Supervisor Hilda Solis said there has to be a better plan for letting the public know about safety risks.
“Obviously we have to have a good, corrective action plan and notify the public as soon as possible,” she said.
Lawmakers received assurances from the county health department that the public agency would improve its action plan.
Los Angeles County Public Health officials, including Dr. Barbara Ferrer, apologized at the Tuesday Board of Supervisors’ meeting. The health department promised to "[look] into the breakdown in communications."
Residents continue to experience the after-effects of the spill, such as foul odors, nausea, rashes and burning eyes. Residents are eligible to apply for reimbursement from the city for hotel costs.