LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will be closing South Bay beaches from Ballona Creek to Manhattan Beach Pier beginning on the evening of November 27, 2006 through at least November 30, 2006.

The Los Angeles City Hyperion Treatment Plant will be conducting an assessment of their sewer treatment pipelines and will be closing down an outfall pipeline that carries treated sewage fluid discharge five miles out to the sea. The diverted fluid will be sent to a pipeline one mile out to sea. The pipeline diversion is necessary to assess its structural conditions, evaluate its reliability, estimate remaining pipeline durability, and identify measures to ensure its usability. During the assessment from November 28, 2006 to November 30, 2006, an extensive water monitoring program will be conducted, weather and current permitting.

The Department of Public Health is working in conjunction with the city of Los Angeles to coordinate efforts to assess the possible impact of the sewage diversion on the surrounding beaches. As a precautionary measure, Public Health Director and Health Officer Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., has ordered the beaches closed to protect the health of visitors to the beach.

“Given the responsibility of Public Health to protect the health of Los Angeles County residents and visitors to our beaches, we are taking precautionary measures to close the beaches that may be most affected by the treatment plant’s assessment operations,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Public Health Director and Health Officer. “We would rather err on the side of caution and public safety and willactively monitoring the beaches and ocean water to ensure safe water conditions.”

Additional water quality monitoring will be conducted during this operation and the beaches will remain closed until sampling data confirms that the beach water is within state standards.

For more information the public may call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Ocean Water Quality Hotline at 1-800-525-5662.

Full Department of Public health Press Release

Hyperion Treatment Plant 5-Mile Outfall Inspection and Diversion Fact Sheet

Department of Public Works Press Release