Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant Reports Release of Acidic Treated Wastewater into the Ocean

Unrelated to Bacterial Levels at Cabrillo Beach

On Aug. 25 about 1p.m., the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health received a report from the California Office of Emergency Services or Cal OES that approximately 400,000 gallons of acidic treated wastewater had been released into the 1-mile outflow due to a maintenance flush at the Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant in San Pedro, near the breakwater and the Los Angeles Lighthouse. 

Yesterday’s release affected pH levels near the site of the incident, but due to the distance of the outflow or pipe and ocean currents, LASAN or LA Sanitation & Environment reported  via telephone Aug. 26, that water pH levels were within the acceptable pH range of 6.5-8.5 at Cabrillo State Beach. It should be noted that this release of treated wastewater did not cause yesterday’s Public Health Ocean Water Use Warning notification for Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, which has had bacteria levels that exceeded State standards for the past five days.

Public Health tested the ocean waters in the surrounding areas and concluded that pH levels were normal. Beachgoers are still advised to stay out of the water under current warning notification until testing by Public Health indicates bacterial levels have returned to within State standards.

Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County health officer said while this incident did not cause water quality to exceed acceptable levels, Public Health will continue warning beach goers when water quality levels exceed health standards

Barbara Romero, Executive Director of LASAN which runs the Terminal Island plant said that there is no cause for alarm and at no time did this incident pose a threat to the public nor impact the existing bacterial level at the beach.

Recorded information on beach conditions is available 24- hours a day on the County’s beach closure hotline: 1-800- 525-5662. Information is also available online at our website: PublicHealth.LACounty.gov/Beach/.