Ever smelled something so foul it made you choke? That was the reality for residents near the Dominguez Channel not long ago. Let’s explore this waterway. The Century Bridge spans the Dominguez Channel. It is a vital part of Los Angeles County’s infrastructure. The channel itself is a 15.7-mile-long stream. It flows through several cities. Hawthorne, Gardena, and Carson are a few. It empties into the Port of Los Angeles.
Originally, the Dominguez Channel had a different name. It was named after a racial slur. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors changed it in 1938. They renamed it Laguna de Los Dominguez.
But the channel’s troubles didn’t end there. In 1941, a fire erupted. It was sparked by oil seepage. The seepage came from a quake-damaged pipeline. Frequent flooding plagued the area. So, in the 1960s, officials lined the channel with rocks. This aimed to control the flooding.
Fast forward to October 2021 and the Dominguez Channel faced a new crisis. A pollution event released hydrogen sulfide into the air. This caused sickness and evacuations. Residents in Carson and nearby cities suffered. The source was a warehouse fire. Ethanol used for hand sanitizer entered the channel. This killed vegetation. Decaying plants released hydrogen sulfide.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued violation notices. They targeted companies connected to the warehouse. The warehouse belonged to Artnaturals. This cosmetics company began making hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Firefighters sprayed water to fight the fire. This water flushed sanitizer and chemicals into the Dominguez Channel.
To combat the odor, officials pumped oxygen into the channel. Hydrogen sulfide forms in unoxygenated environments. Los Angeles County paid for hotel stays for over 3,000 people. They also provided 27,000 air purifiers. This aimed to lessen the odor’s impact.
Adding to the channel’s woes, a sewage spill occurred in late 2021 and early 2022. Untreated sewage flowed into the Dominguez Channel. This led to beach closures. A 60-year-old concrete pipe collapsed in Carson. Sulfuric acid buildup and rainfall stressed the pipe.
Despite these incidents, efforts continue to improve the Dominguez Channel. Investigations are ongoing. They aim to remediate petroleum light non-aqueous phase liquid. This substance was detected in 2011. Sheens appeared on the channel water. Absorbent booms were deployed to contain the sheen.
The source of the LNAPL likely stems from pipeline releases between the 1950s and 1980s. Investigations have identified larger source areas. These areas are along the western levee. Potential health impacts have been investigated. No issues needing immediate attention have been found.
Today the Century Bridge stands above the Dominguez Channel. It serves as a reminder of the challenges and ongoing efforts to protect this waterway. The Dominguez Channel reflects a history of environmental issues. It also shows a commitment to finding solutions.