According to the Los Angeles Times, Dockweiler State Beach still remained closed Thursday when medical wastes such as hypodermic needles, tampon applicators and even condoms were found on the beach between Ballona Creek and Grand Avenue.
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The garbage also started washing up on El Segundo Beach, prompting its closure on Thursday.
As a precaution, warning signs were posted after the water sample results showed bacteria levels that exceeded state standards.
The environmentalist group Heal the Bay, which does regular water monitoring, said the waste may have been discharged from a pipeline belonging to the city-owned Hyperion Treatment Plant.
The closure was announced Wednesday evening when the waste was spotted in the sand along the almost 4-mile-long beach. The origin of the debris is not known, but public health officials in Los Angeles are trying to find out where it came from.
That pipeline and a pump at the Hyperion plant are both being repaired, with the waste diverted to a temporary pipe that discharges a mile offshore while the five-to-six week fix project continues.
Heal the Bay spokesperson James Alamillo said he suspects the waste may be related to recent rainfall.
Heal the Bay spokesman Matthew King also reminded the public that needles and other debris shouldn’t be thrown in toilets.
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Cleaning crews removed the items off the beach, and they worked throughout the night to clean up.
