San Diego County’s coastline is dotted with beaches closed Tuesday because of a sewage spill that released half a million gallons of waste into the Pacific Ocean, according to the San Diego County Department of Health and Environmental Quality Diego (DEHQ).
The affected areas included San Diego Bay, “including all water north and west of Chollas Creek, to Shelter Island”; South Ponto State Beach in Carlsbad; the next mouth of the lagoon of Batiquitos; and Park Morrison Pond in Sweetwater Summit Regional Park.
The sewage spill occurred at 700 W. Harbor Ave., which is the address of the Park Place Condominiums, after a power outage caused the city of San Diego’s pump station to lose function , a DEHQ spokesman said. The city estimates 500,000 gallons of sewage was released during the outage.
Arian Collins, a public information officer for the city of San Diego, said that around 2:50 p.m. On Monday, “there was a sensor malfunction at Pump Station 2, which pumps wastewater to the city’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.” As a result of the malfunction, sewage pumps were shut down, sewage was backed up, and “there were spills at various locations on Midway and downtown areas that flow into San Diego Bay .
The backup lasted until 3:17 p.m., when the pumps were restarted. Collins said the appropriate regulatory agencies were notified and signs were posted along the bay. An investigation is underway to determine what caused the sensor to malfunction.
Later that day, Collins emailed NBC 7 that 18 different locations were being affected by the sewage spill:
While officials do not yet have an exact number on the size of the spill, the “initial estimate is that the spill represents approximately 6 percent of the total amount of wastewater treated yesterday at the wastewater treatment plant of Point Loma,” Collins said.
The agency announced the closure of the beaches Monday night after tests indicated the water contained sewage and could cause illness in those who come into contact with the water. There was no estimated reopening. The DEHQ said the closures would remain in place until sampling and field observations confirm these areas are safe.
DEHQ also extended the General Rain Advisory for all coastal beaches and bays. Rain causes urban runoff, which can cause bacteria levels to rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near stormwater, streams, rivers, and lagoon outlets, and can cause disease , said the DEHQ. Contact with water such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided during rain and for 72 hours after rain.
Additionally, orders remain in place for Children’s Pool in La Jolla and Tourmaline Surf Park in Pacific Beach — which have a warning due to high bacteria levels — and Tijuana Slough, Imperial Beach, Silver Strand and Coronado Shorelines, which are closed due to the discharge of sewage from the Tijuana River.
For updates on beach warnings and closure information, visit www.sdbeachinfo.com or call the 24-hour hotline at 619-338-2073.
The City News Service contributed to this report
Why does Tijuana smell?
What is Tijuana famous for? Tijuana is one of the most recognized cities. Gateway to Mexico, it has the busiest border crossing in the world. This modern and dynamic city is full of history, industry, restaurants, hotels and the best hospitals in Mexico.
Is Tijuana dumping sewage into the ocean? The good news is that Tijuana is not currently pumping sewage into a broken sewage treatment plant called Punta Bandera that effectively dumps it, untreated, directly into the Pacific Ocean.
Why does San Diego smell? Something smells rotten in the La Jolla area of San Diego. Bird and sea lion droppings have accumulated on the ocean cliffs there for years, creating a powerful stench in the wealthy coastal city. Residents and business owners are so fed up with the smell that they are now suing the city.
Is Tijuana polluted?
In the case of Tijuana, only PM2. 5 was recorded to be 7.1 µg/m³. While no amount of polluted air is safe, at a level like this, there will be no problem opening doors and windows to let some fresh air into the building. All forms of outdoor activity can be freely enjoyed without undue worry.
What beaches are affected by the sewage spill?
These beaches include those of:
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex.
- Newquay, Cornwall.
- East Looe, Cornwall.
- Heacham, Norfolk.
- Rest and Sandy Bay (Porthcawl), Bridgend.
- Morecambe North, Lancashire
- Cowes, Isle of Wight.
- Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire.
Which beaches are closed due to the oil spill? The Orange County cities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach were shut down by officials last week when about 527,000 liters – 3,000 barrels – of heavy crude oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife and littering the coast
What beaches were affected by the sewage spill?
The spill prompted coastal closures from Huntington Beach in the south to Rancho Palos Verdes in the north, officials in the two counties affected by the breach said.
What beaches are closed in California due to sewage spill?
Beaches including Cabrillo Beach, Point Fermin Beach, Royal Palms State Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes Beach, Seal Beach and White Point Park Beach will remain closed until bacteria levels return to state standards, according to health officials.
