Major Sewage Spill Closes Dockweiller, Venice and Other Los Angeles County Beaches

LA County Department of Public Health has closed Dockweiler and Venice beaches, after a a discharge of 14,400 gallons of sewage entered Ballona Creek.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is updating its ocean water closure due to the release of approximately 14,400 gallons of untreated sewage to include:

Dockweiler State Beach from Ballona Creek to one mile South. Venice Beach from Ballona Creek to one mile North.

The expansion of the closure area was due to information provided by the County Lifeguard regarding a south facing swell pushing ocean water north of Ballona Creek.

Public Health officials are advising residents or visitors planning to visit Los Angeles County beaches to avoid contact with ocean water and wet sand in the areas noted above. The sewage discharge began on May 8th and was stopped at 12:09 p.m. on May 9th, resulting in an estimated 14,400 gallons of sewage entering Ballona Creek.

The Department of Public Health will conduct water sampling beginning on May 10th, and the closures will remain in effect until Public Health receives two sampling results indicating that bacterial levels meet health standards.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the County's beach closure hotline:

1-800- 525-5662. To view the map of impacted locations and for more information, please visit: PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.