US-ENVIRONMENT-WASTE-SEWAGE
A security guard stands at the entrance to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del Rey, in Los Angeles County, California, on July 13, 2021. - 17 million gallons of sewage were discharged from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant one mile offshore, instead of the usual five miles, after the plant was "inundated with overwhelming quantities of debris", according to a statement released by LA Sanitation and Environment on July 12, 2021. Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

After the sewage spill at the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which resulted in environmental damages and an unbearable odor, Los Angeles offered El Segundo residents reimbursement options for hotel room or air condition units through July 29 while damages were being treated.

During a power outage, millions of gallons of untreated sewage were discharged into the ocean on July 11 from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. A county official initially confirmed on social media that a power outage prompted the plant to release the untreated sewage. However, plant officials later attributed the incident to the debris that clogged screens and later on caused flooding at the facility.

According to Spectrum News1, while crews were still working to remove the excess water and sewage from the facility, the city of Los Angeles offered help to nearby residents of El Segundo to cope with the unpleasant odor. The city of Los Angeles offered El Segundo residents who do not have air conditioning to either purchase air conditioning units and be reimbursed $600 for homes with no more than 1,000 square feet and AC units worth $1,200 for homes more than 1,000 square feet.

Moreover, the city of Los Angeles also gave residents an option to stay in a hotel room if they do not want to stay at their homes. Residents who would be staying at the hotels could be reimbursed up to $182. Aside from the free stay at the hotel, meals, and incidentals, up to $62 per day for each individual who lives full time in the household would also be paid, but the offer is only available through July 29. The offers were only available to El Segundo residents who were living and had homes within the boundaries of Imperial Avenue, Grand Avenue, and Main Street.

However, the city of Los Angeles reminded El Segundo residents that an application should be submitted within 24 hours of checking into a hotel or purchasing any air conditioning unit for it to be reimbursed. They also added that applications would be soon available at lacitysan.org.

The Hyperion Spill

On July 11, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which is Los Angeles County's largest and oldest sewage plant, discharged 17 million gallons of untreated sewage through its one- and five-mile outlets after a power outage. As a result, beaches were closed the next day which prompted questions regarding the late notification to the public about the untreated sewage spill and the closure of Dockweiler State Beach at Hyperion Plant, El Segundo Beach, Dockweiler State Beach at Water Way Extension, and Grand Avenue Storm Drain.

Due to the incident, authorities from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health made sure that the water samples collected over two days met state standards for acceptable water quality before reopening the beaches on July 15.

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by Jess Smith

WATCH: Los Angeles offering reimbursement options for El Segundo residents impacted by sewage spill - Fox 11 Los Angeles