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Bacteria Levels Briefly Prompt Swimming Advisory for 28th Street in Manahattan Beach

Jul 13, 2021 05:41PM ● By Jeanne Fratello

Update: As of Wednesday evening, Dockweiler and El Segundo beaches have been reopened.

A day of confusing messages has left Manhattan Beach with uncertainty about the safety of swimming at the beach in light of a recent sewage spill. Given current information, beach-goers should exercise caution, and probably should avoid swimming in the ocean if they are in fragile health.

The L.A. County Department of Public Health issued, then reversed, an advisory against swimming at 28th Street in Manhattan Beach on Tuesday afternoon due to high levels of bacteria found in the water. 

However, as of Wednesday morning, the public health department posted the following statement: "Areas further south [of the Dockweiler and El Segundo beaches that are closed due to the sewage spill] may also be affected and beach users are cautioned to avoid water contact and monitor ocean sampling results."

The health department had initially reported that the ocean water bacteria level at 28th Street had exceeded state standards. 

However, a follow-up statement on Tuesday evening clarified that the bacterial levels were within state standards for swimming. 

The latest statement from the city of Manhattan Beach reads as follows: 

"The L.A. County Department of Public Health has updated their Water Quality Testing map [Tuesday] evening and now indicates that the ocean water bacteria level near 28th street in Manhattan Beach meets state standards. However, the county continues to test water quality levels following the sewage spill in El Segundo."

The statement came after a sewage discharge from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in El Segundo. The beaches in Dockweiler and El Segundo are currently closed because of the sewage spill.

An advisory is issued when bacterial levels exceed state standards and may cause illness. It is different from a beach closure, which is issued when the water has been directly contaminated by sewage or other health hazards.



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