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LOS ANGELES COUNTY : 5-Mile Stretch of Beach Reopened After 3 Days

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County health officials reopened more than five miles of ocean in Playa del Rey and Venice to swimmers Tuesday, saying the bacterial pollution that triggered a three-day beach closure has dissipated. A smaller section of beach south of the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier also was expected to be reopened to swimmers by Thursday.

Workers removed no-swimming signs along Venice and Playa del Rey beaches after tests showed that bacterial levels from a spill of sewage or other organic material had dropped to within allowable levels.

The high bacteria counts were discovered during routine testing Saturday at Ballona Creek, although health and sanitation officials said they have been unable to find the source of the contamination.

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In a separate incident, a sewer line to the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier was discovered vandalized Monday morning, allowing sewage to spill into the ocean and prompting the closure of more than a half-mile of beach south of the pier. The line was repaired immediately and the beach is expected to open Thursday if tests confirm that bacterial pollution has dissipated.

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