Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Public Safety

Pollution Alert For La Jolla Beaches After Sewage Spill

Alert Expanded To Include La Jolla Cove

UPDATE: 2:39 p.m.: Beach Closure Extended To La Jolla Cove

The pollution alert that went into effect Wednesday for La Jolla beaches has been extended to include La Jolla Cove and accessible beachline 500 feet to the east.

The alert followed a roughly 5,000-gallon sewage spill, city officials said.

Advertisement

Wastewater began overflowing about 5 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of Prospect Street from a blocked sanitation line that drains southwest down Coast Boulevard, according to the San Diego Public Utilities Department. It took crews about three hours to get the problem under control.

Signs warning of contamination hazards will stand at the Children's Pool, South Casa Beach, La Jolla Cove and nearby beach access points until follow-up testing shows the bacteria count is safe for recreational uses.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.