For disgusting reasons, two of LA’s famous golden sand beaches were closed for two days

Two famous beaches in Los Angeles had to be closed after liters of sewage were accidentally discharged into the sea.

The health department has asked beachgoers not to visit Venice Beach and Dockweiler State Beach after about 15,000 gallons of raw sewage ended up in Ballona Creek.

Sewerage officials said a water pipe burst near 2700 S. Cresta Place pushed sand into the sewer system and caused a blockage on July 20.

By the time health authorities were alerted to the problem, sewage had already been flowing into the sea for about two hours.

Both beaches are expected to remain closed until two water quality tests show that bacteria levels meet safe health standards – the first test began yesterday.

Venice resident Scott Culbertson explained how disappointed locals were at being denied access to the beach on a sunny weekend.

“It’s kind of heartbreaking. Yesterday it was hot, people wanted to come to the beach and take their kids to the beach,” he told the LA Times.

He also pointed out that the sudden discharge had caused great damage to marine life and local businesses.

“These waters are where wildlife feed, nest and forage. They did not receive the text message alert about the devastating sewage leak,” Culbertson said.

Earlier this month, a new report found that several of California’s famous beaches are among the dirtiest on the West Coast due to sewage discharges and pollution.

Ten beaches along the coast of California and Baja California, including around the Santa Monica Pier, received the worst water quality ratings in Heal the Bay’s annual report card.

Many coasts experienced high levels of bacterial contamination as rainfall overwhelmed sewage systems and washed pollutants into the sea.

“Almost every square inch is covered by buildings, concrete or asphalt, and that means more rainwater picks up more pollution and ends up in coastal waters.”

Due to increased rainfall, about 38 million gallons of wastewater entered the sea and coastal waters this year, the report said.

California’s coastal counties received 31 percent more rainfall than the ten-year average.

The Tijuana River estuary ranks as the dirtiest due to ongoing sewage problems. Over 100 billion gallons of raw sewage from Mexico’s Tijuana River have been discharged into the Pacific Ocean in the last five years due to inadequate sewage infrastructure.

A significant portion of the raw sewage comes from Tijuana’s impoverished colonias (residential areas), where residents lack adequate housing due to poverty, says Fay Crevoshay, communications and policy director for the international nonprofit organization WILDCOAST.

Imperial Beach, once a popular surfing destination, has fallen victim to decades of sewage and has been dubbed “America’s smelliest beach.”

Playa Beach, Tijuana Slough, Border Field State Park and El Faro are all on the list because they have been affected by sewage from the Tijuana River.