On the shores of Playa del Rey sits L.A.’s last line of defense against sewage streaming into the Santa Monica Bay — and a jacked El Niño this winter threatens to be more than a match for it. Built in 1950, the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant handles roughly 95% of the city’s sewage on any given day — up to 800 million gallons of effluent from toilets, washing machines, sinks, industrial operations and more. Storms can overwhelm the aging facility, which suffered an equipment breakdown in 2021 that led to 17 million gallons of raw sewage gushing into the Santa Monica Bay. Los Angeles officials are bracing for more trouble if the forecast “super” El Niño brings heavy rains and flooding. … L.A.’s stormwater and wastewater systems are separate, but when it rains, water seeps into the ground and can sneak into the cracks of aging wastewater pipes.

Other El Niño news:

• 9News (Denver, Colo.): This El Niño is now the strongest on record: What it could mean for Colorado’s weather
• ABC30 (Fresno, Calif.): Merced County declares local emergency as officials prepare for potentially strong El Niño
• Monterey County Now (Seaside, Calif.): Meteorologists say we’re in for a strong El Niño—but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a wet winter.
• KQED (San Francisco): An El Niño-driven ‘Kelvin Wave’ could raise Bay Area sea levels and flooding risk
• Ventura County Star (Calif.): As El Niño strengthens, Ventura County will waive these fees
• Daily Republic (Fairfield, Calif.): California ramping up preparation for El Niño winter
• San Diego Union-Tribune: Worried about El Niño? Here’s what San Diegans need to know to prepare