14,400 gallons of untreated sewage spills, forcing beach closure in Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey

PLAYA DEL REY — A sewage spill prompted Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday, May 9, to order a beach and ocean water closure for two miles of coastline in the Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey areas.

According to the county Department of Public Health, roughly 14,400 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into the creek between Wednesday and midday Thursday, discharging into the ocean. The source of the spill was not immediately released.

Health officials issued a closure order directing people to avoid the ocean water and any wet sand on the beach one mile north and south of Ballona Creek. That encompasses an area stretching from the southern end of Venice Beach, through the Marina del Rey area and south through Dockweiler State Beach.

“The Department of Public Health will conduct water sampling beginning (Friday), and the closures will remain in effect until Public Health receives two sampling results indicating that bacteria levels meet health standards,” according to the agency.