By Jorge Casuso

Nov. 6 -- It took more than 24 hours before the public began to learn that 1.4 million gallons of raw sewage had spilled into Santa Monica Bay this weekend, shutting down beaches from Wilshire Boulevard to Manhattan Beach.

The raw sewage flowed into Ballona Creek, Marina del Rey and into the Bay Friday night and during much of Saturday, making the ocean unsafe for swimming, surfing or boating. But it wasn't until Monday morning that news of the spill began trickling out.

"The real concern here was the lack of notification to the general public," said James Alamillo, the beach report card manager for Heal the Bay. "The first most of us heard about this was Monday morning, more than 24 hours later. That's not only reprehensible, it's unacceptable."

Those who waded into the contaminated ocean complained the water smelled and tasted bad, but said they had never been warned the water was unsafe due to a sewage spill. "Beach Closed" signs were posted along the beach, but they did not give a reason for the closure, leading many surfers to downplay the warning, Alamillo said.

"The signs that were put up did not identify that the reason to stay out of the water was sewage," Alamillo said. "Surfers thought it was applicable to the recent rain and thought nothing of it. Those users were put at risk because there was not a clear, defined message."

Those who wade into the contaminated waters can contract gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory problems and skin rashes, Alamillo said.

A power failure at a waste-water pumping plant in Los Angeles was blamed for the sewage spill, which was the worst since the El Nino storms of 1997-98. The pumps shut down after a car crash knocked down electric lines near the plant, which was being enlarged to accommodate toilets in residential and commercial buildings in Playa Vista, sanitation officials said.

According to news sources, it took 15 hours before the failure was noticed because power backup and alarm systems were not in operation during construction at the plant. Another 12 hours passed before Los Angeles sanitation officials notified county health workers. County lifeguards did not shut down beaches in the Marina del Rey and El Segundo areas until another 10 hours had passed.

"It's imperative that health officials take a proactive approach and that's what was lacking this time around," Alamillo said.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board can fine the City of Los Angeles up to $25 per gallon of spilled sewage, Alamillo said.

Los Angeles County officials are expected to determine Tuesday whether to reopen the 9.5 mile stretch of beach.

The spill comes after a relatively contamination-free summer. Heal the Bay -- which issues a beach report card -- gave LA County beaches a B overall, compared to a C+ last summer. Alamillo credits a dry summer and more dry weather diversions.

"We definitely saw an improvement in the LA County area," he said.

For more information on Heal the Bay: www:healthebay.org