Sewage Contamination Expands to La Jolla Cove

A beach closure at the Children's Pool has been expanded to La Jolla Cove after about 5,000 gallons of sewage leaked into the ocean.

At about 5 a.m. Tuesday, a sewer pipe became blocked up in the 1000 block of Prospect Street, causing sewage to flow southwest down Coast Boulevard and into a storm drain, according to county officials.

The spill was cut off around 8:45 a.m., but not before the odorous material flowed into the waters near the Children’s Pool.

Images: Children's Pool Controversy

Authorities have posted closure signs from 1,000 feet south of South Casa Beach to 1,000 feet north of the Children’s Pool to warn beachgoers of the contamination.

But Wednesday, they realized the spill was worse than first believed. Officials extended the closure north to La Jolla Cove and beaches 500 feet east.

The signs will stay in place until sample testing shows the water is no longer impacted. The county's beach water quality website will provide updates on the situation.

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