700-gallon sewage spill enters Ballona Creek, prompting beach closure in Marina del Rey

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (CNS) -- A sewage discharge in the View Park-Windsor Hills area was making its way into Ballona Creek and resulted in a beach closure in Marina del Rey for the weekend.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health posted signs advising the public of the beach closure 100 yards in each direction from where the creek drains into the ocean, health officials said.

Public health officials said they learned about 1 p.m. Saturday that 1,200 gallons of sewage was discharged onto the street near 4545 W. 62nd St., health officials said. About 500 gallons was recovered but another 700 gallons got into the storm drain, which first entered Centinela Creek, which discharges into Ballona Creek.

At 4 p.m., a strike team confirmed there was a flow in Centinela Creek that would wind up in the ocean, health officials said.

It will be at least Wednesday before the beach could reopen, they said. That is because the department is unable to submit water samples to its lab until Monday, and it takes two consecutive satisfactory samples to reopen the beach.

Information on beach conditions is available at 1-800-525-5662 or online at www.PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach.