27,000-Gallon Sewage Spill Closes Long Beach Coastal Waters

WHO:

NY Post - The article’s opening describes the spill as affecting Long Beach’s Halloween weekend, calling it “a real stinkfest.”

Orange County Register - Newport Beach resident and real-estate broker Christine Donovan recalled seeing seawater fill the aisle of her school bus when she was in eighth grade.

Orange County Register - Mike Alvidrez, the city’s utilities crew chief, said about 90 tide valves are closed during high tides to keep water from flowing into streets.

Orange County Register - Public Works Director Dave Webb said flooding has three sources: high tides and storm surge overtopping seawalls, rainwater trapped when tide valves are closed, and high surf and swells pushing water over the beach.

Orange County Register - Balboa Ferry operator Seymour Beek, 93, called the 1983 storm “ferocious.” He said waves broke over seawalls and damaged docks and small piers.

Orange County Register - Resident Dana Smith said her garage sustained drywall damage during ocean-surge flooding, while neighboring homes were more severely flooded.

Orange County Register - Scott Carpenter said he sent vacationing tenants photographs to assure them their belongings stayed dry and thanked city workers trying to hold back seawater.

WHAT:

NY Post - The article headline identifies a 27,000-gallon sewage spill and says it affected the Southern California shoreline; its text says Long Beach’s Halloween weekend was “turning into a real stinkfest.”

Drudge Report - The headline says Long Beach shut down coastal waters after a sewage spill.

Orange County Register - Newport Beach experienced flooding from both ocean surf and high tides, with seawater reaching streets, homes and businesses.

Orange County Register - The city distributed more than 20,000 sandbags and issued 21 violation notices and two $200 citations to homeowners in flood-prone areas.

Orange County Register - Raising several Balboa Island seawalls by 9 inches cost the city about $1.6 million.

WHERE:

Drudge Report - Coastal waters off Long Beach were shut down.

NY Post - The sewage spill affected the Southern California shoreline.

Orange County Register - Flooding affected Newport Beach, including the Balboa Peninsula, Balboa Island, Sunset Beach, Pacific Coast Highway and low-lying areas.

WHY:

Orange County Register - Flooding occurs when high tides, storm surge, rain, surf or swells combine; seawalls can be overtopped, and closed tide valves can trap rainwater.

Orange County Register - The article says modern sea-level rise has made clear that seawalls were not built high enough to withstand current conditions.

HOW:

Orange County Register - City workers operate pumps around high tides, starting about two hours before the peak and continuing until about two hours afterward; valves divert water back toward the bay.

Orange County Register - The city trucked sand from the Santa Ana River and Prado Dam to build temporary beach barriers, and added wooden planks to some seawall sections.

Orange County Register - The 27,000-gallon sewage spill is identified in the NY Post headline, but the supplied article text gives no details about its cause, location, timing or response.

(UPDATED November 2, 2026 09:58 UTC)

A 27,000-gallon sewage spill shut coastal waters off Long Beach, affecting Southern California’s shoreline. Newport Beach also faced flooding as high tides, surf and trapped rainwater pushed seawater ashore. Crews pumped water, closed tide valves and built temporary sand barriers to protect homes.