Sewage Discharge Prompts Beach Advisory from Venice to Dockweiler State Beach

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health posted warning signs Tuesday advising beachgoers to stay out of the ocean water near Ballona Creek after being notified of a roughly 5,000-gallon sewage discharge.

Swimmers, surfers and visitors were advised to avoid the ocean water a quarter-mile north and south of Ballona Creek, roughly from Topsail Street in Venice to the Culver Boulevard storm drain at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey.

The Inglewood Department of Public Works reported the discharge earlier Tuesday to the county's public health agency, which said in a statement that the sewage may have entered ocean waters at Centinela Creek, which discharges into Ballona Creek.

The sand area of the creek was not affected and the advisory signs were posted as a precaution.

The advisory will be in effect until at least 4 p.m. Thursday, pending test results for bacteria levels in samples taken Tuesday morning.

“We are asking people to avoid entering or swimming in the ocean in the area immediately surrounding Ballona Creek,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, the county's director of public health, in a statement. “Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of the people who visit the beach and water areas. Once we determine bacteria levels in the water have returned to normal, we will remove the beach
advisory.” 

For around-the-clock recorded information on beach conditions, call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Ocean Water Quality Hotline at 1-800-525-5662 and online right here.