The Long Beach sewage spill on Friday night led the city to close every open coastal swimming area, including beaches, bay areas and lagoons. A pressurized sewer pipe broke near Livingston Drive and 2nd Street at about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2026. The closure remains in effect as of Nov. 1, per the City of Long Beach.
How the Long Beach sewage spill happened
Long Beach Utilities first estimated 27,000 gallons. The city updated that figure on Oct. 31 to 29,000 gallons. Crews recovered 15,000 gallons, but 14,000 gallons reached the ocean.
The break happened in a force main, which is a pressurized pipe that carries wastewater. The city has not said what caused it. Utilities rerouted the flow through a bypass line, so new sewage no longer escapes. The city’s contractor, Ocean Blue, is helping with cleanup, and an emergency contractor has started repairs on the pipe.
Closure rules and when water may reopen
City Health Officer Dr. Cliff Okada ordered the closure. State law requires a temporary closure and posted warnings after a spill like this, until the water meets state recreational standards.
The city expects rain this weekend, so water sampling starts Monday, Nov. 2. Staff will keep testing as needed until results comply with the standards. No reopening date exists yet, because it depends on those results.
What residents should do
Avoid water contact while closures are in effect, and watch for warning signs on the sand. For the latest status, call the Water Hotline at 562-570-4199 or check the city’s beach water quality page. This is general information, not medical advice.
The closure covers open coastal beaches, bay swimming areas and lagoons, so the order reaches well beyond the block where the pipe failed. The city’s first notice covered open coastal swimming areas. It then added the bay areas and lagoons at 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, when it raised the spill estimate. Because of that change, anyone who saw an earlier notice should check the latest one.
Long Beach has more than six miles of public beach, and the city tests the water weekly. Coastal conditions have been unusual this year, too. Our report on the LA coastal flooding record covers the 12 flood days at the San Pedro gauge. More local stories are in our Los Angeles and California hub.