what happens when cars block street sweepers

When Lakewood allows cars to park on the street on street sweeping day and ALL streets are not swept once a week in Lakewood this is what happens to our beaches. Photo from Long Beach Press Telegram.


Long Beach Press Telegram
The effluent society
Article Launched:12/11/2006

Vegetation hangs from a guy wire connected to a 700-foot trash boom in the mouth of the Los Angeles River in Long Beach on Monday. Approximately 150 tons of trash, including yard clippings, cans of motor oil, tires and a wide variety of refuse was collected from the river after heavy rains over the weekend flushed out the storm sewers of the Los Angeles Basin.

Darryl M. Sexton, Long Beach health officer, has issued a public health advisory for city beaches. Residents are urged not to swim in local waters for at least 72 hours after the last rainfall.

After rainfall of a tenth of an inch or more, storm drain runoff and rivers can contain bacteria from animal waste, litter, fertilizers and decomposing vegetation.

Exposure to contaminated water can lead to flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal illnesses, skin rashes and eye infections.

More information about water quality in Long Beach is available at www.longbeach.gov/health or by calling (562) 570-4199.

Scott Smeltzer / Press-Telegram