27 Oct, 2009
Long Beach Ocean Closure from Downtown to Belmont Pier
Posted by: Beach Reporter In: beaches| california| events| travel
The second sewage spill in about a year closed the beach (ocean access) from downtown Long Beach, California, near Rainbow Lagoon to Belmont Pier. While this happened a few days ago, we are posting information about it because many people aren’t noticing the posted signs on the beach, and they are going in the water. If the water is suitable, the signs will be removed, but do look around for them first.
Happening just on the tail of an announcement that neighboring Orange County beaches Seal Beach and Sunset Beach will not receive county water testing for months as the County of Orange cuts costs, the economy takes its toll in many ways. In a perfect world, not only would testing be up-to-date and available to all, but the cities along the coast would take active measures such as replacing sewage pipes and creating more filter systems to stop pollution from entering the water, especially from rivers that flow into the sea. Malibu recently was required to fix its sewage problem and faced heavy fines for infractions. The city’s efforts to fix the problem have markedly improved water quality overall in that region.
Likewise, Imperial Beach and south San Diego County water quality was a disaster partially due to lack of infrastructure in bordering Tijuana, Mexico. A treatment facility was built, capturing much of the sewage and making the water useful once again for humans to enjoy. Tijuana’s sewage problem was so problematic just a few years ago that beach destinations such as Coronado with famed Hotel del Coronado had to post warnings about water quality to its guests paying hundreds of dollars to stay in the historic, luxury resort.
