L.A. Public Health has reopened the beaches near Dockweiler and El Segundo, days after a 17 million gallon sewage spill that spread for miles.

On Wednesday night, life guards were allowed to remove closure signs at Dockweiler State Beach at Water Way Extension, Dockweiler State Beach at Hyperion Plan and El Segundo Beach.

The sewage spill occurred at the city-run Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant Sunday, continuing for eight hours into the Santa Monica Bay.

While the spill began Sunday evening, the beach shut downs did not occur until Monday morning.

“What happened yesterday off the coast of Dockweiler Beach was irresponsible, unacceptable and dangerous,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said after the spill was announced. “Not only did the Hyperion Plant release 17 million gallons of sewage into our ocean, the public had little to no information about it for HOURS.”

The spill was attributed to “debris” that caused a pipe backup, leading the facility to release the sewage into the bay.

“The Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant became inundated with overwhelming quantities of debris, causing backup of the headworks facilities,” L.A. Sanitation and Environment said in a statement. “We are investigating the cause of the debris and repairing damaged equipment.”

Both L.A. Public Health and Hyperion collected samples of the water near the beaches and after two days of the bacteria meeting the state standards, it was deemed safe for Beachgoers.

Water samples will continue to be collected and tested through Thursday.

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