Threat of Sewage Not a Deterrent to Beach Enthusiasts
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Despite the release of 6.2 million gallons of treated sewage into the ocean a mile from shore, beachgoers--more than 75,000 strong--came to Los Angeles County beaches and were allowed to go into the water Saturday after preliminary test results showed that the water was safe.
The sewage diversion, which occurred Friday, was blamed on electrical failures and a lightning strike that disabled pumps at the 30-year-old Hyperion sewage treatment plant. When the pumps are in operation, treated sewage is released into a submarine canyon five miles offshore.
Los Angeles County Lifeguard Capt. Don Rohrer said lifeguards had been besieged “all day long” by anxious bathers seeking to know if the water was safe for swimming. Signs were posted on beaches warning that sewage could reach the beach.
Preliminary test results show that bacteria levels from samples taken Friday were not high enough to threaten health, according to Jack Petralia, Los Angeles County acting director of environmental health.
In contrast to a spill in June, all the effluent discharged Friday was chlorinated to kill bacteria.
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