Long Beach City Health Officer, Dr. Cliff Okada, has ordered the temporary closure of all open coastal beaches and bay swimming areas, including lagoons, following a local sewage spill that may affect recreational water quality.
Published on October 31, 2026
On October 30, 2026, Long Beach Utilities was notified of a force main failure adjacent to Sewer Lift Station 12, near Livingston Drive and 2nd Street. Long Beach Utilities crews and contracted response teams were immediately mobilized to contain and mitigate the spill. An estimated 29,000 gallons of wastewater were discharged. Approximately 15,000 gallons were successfully contained and recovered by Ocean Blue, while an estimated 14,000 gallons reached the ocean.
Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Fire Department were notified and supported the response. Police personnel assisted with traffic control and vehicle relocation in the affected area.
In coordination with the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, including its Environmental Health Services Division, precautionary beach closures have been implemented at all 15 beach and open swimming sites and will remain in effect pending recreational water quality assessment results. A public notice was published in the early morning of October 31, 2026. Link to notice can be found here.
Emergency repair operations are underway, with Utilities crews excavating to access and repair the damaged sewer main. Wastewater flows have been successfully rerouted to a secondary conveyance line, and no sewer service interruptions have been reported.
For media inquiries, please contact Public Information Officer Joy Contreras at joy.contreras@lbutilities.org.
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