Long Beach Closes All Coastal Swimming Areas After 29,000-Gallon Sewage Spill

Long Beach City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada ordered the temporary closure of all open coastal swimming areas, including beaches, bay swimming areas, and lagoons, after a sewage spill on Friday, October 30, 2026.

An estimated 29,000 gallons of sewage was discharged near Livingston Drive and 2nd Street beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. The spill resulted from a break in a force main, a pressurized pipe that conveys wastewater. Of the total volume, 15,000 gallons was recovered by the contractor Ocean Blue. An estimated 14,000 gallons reached the ocean.

Long Beach Utilities rerouted flow using a bypass line. Emergency repair crews excavated to access the damaged main. No sewer service interruptions were reported. Police and fire departments assisted with traffic control and vehicle relocation. The city's contractor continued cleanup on Saturday.

State law requires temporary closure and posting of beaches in such situations until recreational water quality meets standards. Sampling is scheduled to begin on Monday, November 2, because of expected rain over the weekend, and will continue until results comply. The closure covers all 15 beach and open swimming sites in the city.

The public notice was updated Saturday morning to include bay areas and lagoons and to correct the spill volume from an earlier 27,000-gallon estimate. Officials said the spill has been contained and repair work is nearly complete. No impact on drinking water or other services has been reported.

Long Beach residents and visitors are advised to stay out of the water until the health officer lifts the order. The city maintains a beach water quality page for updates. Similar force main failures have occurred in other coastal California cities; the volume and ocean discharge in this case triggered the broadest closure under state protocol.

As of Sunday, November 1, the beaches remained closed. Repair crews continued work at the site near the lift station. The next official update is expected after Monday's water samples are analysed. Until then, the precautionary closure remains in effect across Long Beach's coastal recreation areas.