Why sewage water is being dumped closer to our local beaches

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A sewage pipe is going to be shut down for repairs for over a month, forcing treated water to be dumped much closer to local beaches, officials said Thursday.

The wastewater, similar to recycled H2O used in outdoor watering in which the solids are removed, is normally pumped through a 5-mile pipe that discharges into the ocean. That pipe will be shut down for six weeks, now causing the water to be dumped just a mile away from the shoreline.

The areas affected include Dockweiler State Beach to El Porto in Manhattan Beach.

The Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant treats around 250 million gallons of wastewater from sinks and toilets every day, and California Regional Water Quality Control Board officials promise daily monitoring in the area.

"The city of L.A. has worked out a very robust monitoring plan and a public outreach plan to inform anyone if there were any water quality issues, that it would be evident during this six-week period," said Samuel Unger, executive officer.

Meanwhile, local beachgoers are concerned.

"When you're a mile offshore there's a likelihood that the wastewater, treated again, is going to impact some of the beaches," said James Alamillo of Heal the Bay. "How and where are the big questions."