Since the most recent sewage spill on July 11th, when 17 million gallons of raw sewage had to be released into our local beaches, Playa Del Rey and Westchester continue to suffer the consequences.  As concerned neighbors to the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, we demand action to hold those responsible accountable and to mitigate the environmental and financial costs that this has burdened our community with.  

The sewage spill closed down our beaches for several days, and the damage done to our community is immeasurable. It profoundly effects quality of life, health, real estate values, businesses, tourism, and the local economy. While there have been periods of time at which the water was deemed safe, the smell alone has left community members wondering if the right chemicals or biological agents are being tested for. Since July 11th , leakage of other forms continues - the air quality has been unbearable leaving most of us to be forced indoors. In fact, the City of Los Angeles has offered reimbursement to El Segundo residents for an air conditioning unit, or for hotel rooms, meals and incidentals, because the air has been deemed so poor that it is not safe to breathe. Although this is a good start, it’s only the beginning of a necessary process to hold those responsible accountable. Residents of Playa Del Rey and Westchester, who also neighbor this facility, are facing the same consequences, and we should also be entitled the same reimbursement.

Compensation for hotels and an air conditioning unit isn’t enough. We have countless people of all ages currently suffering from migraines, headaches, nose bleeds, coughs, dry/sore throats, dizziness, congestion, lethargy, and other conditions as a result of the processes utilized to clean the mess, in addition to the chemicals normally utilized in the regular processing. We are being woken in the middle of the night due to the stench, and the alternative is to run air conditioning at a time when we are being asked to conserve energy in California. This is expensive and not sustainable. Several families have received guidance to contact their doctors, public health officials, as well as poison control. Not only are we quite literally being poisoned from the air we breathe, but we don’t know what substances are poisoning us, and this is unacceptable. Additionally, we haven’t been given a date when this will end, which is also unacceptable. It is imperative that we seek a sustainable resolve to this issue, immediately.  At this point, when we do not know what substances are being used and there is no end in sight, there is no way to measure the ramifications of this crisis as related to the health of our community members, and this is appalling. 

We are grateful for our elected officials who have spoken up about this issue and support further investigation into this matter. The health of our community is at stake, including the health of our children who will be resuming school very soon and especially relying on clean air as a safety measure in the next phase of this pandemic. The last thing we need is for them to be poisoned because of a reckless company left to act on their own accord. We must know what substances are being emitted so that we can adequately care for ourselves, and for our environment. We would also like financial relief for the air conditioning we are being forced to run. At the very least, Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant must be held accountable. How do we know that this will not happen again? What assurance do we have that the appropriate measures will be taken to make sure? 

We implore all of our elected officials to address this crisis for what it is and look forward to prompt action on this matter. 

Signed, 

Neighbors of the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant