Massive Sewage Spill Closes Popular Lake Tahoe Beach
Placer County officials have issued a health advisory for the Carnelian Bay area of Lake Tahoe following a significant sewage spill on Thursday evening.
The advisory was announced after 85,000 gallons of untreated sewage leaked from a main sewage line along Highway 28, according to the North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD).
The affected area extends northeast from Carnelian West Beach to Manzanita Avenue and southwest to 4600 North Lake Boulevard. Residents with properties using private water from the lake are advised that bacteria levels may be elevated for an unspecified period.
“Lake visitors are advised that bacteria levels may be high in the area and that water contact could cause illness,” Placer County officials stated. As a precaution, the California Tahoe Conservancy has closed Patton Beach and Carnelian West Beach until further notice while the NTPUD continues cleanup efforts.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Thursday when a private contractor accidentally struck the NTPUD’s main sewer export line during work on Highway 28. NTPUD crews responded immediately and repaired the pipeline, but not before 125,000 gallons of sewage had escaped. Crews managed to capture and clean up 40,000 gallons of the spilled sewage.
“All local and water quality agencies have been notified and the NTPUD is working with authorities to sample and test the water quality,” the agency said in a social media post on Friday.
The spill also caused closures on Highway 28 and North Lake Boulevard for nearly 12 hours.
Residents and visitors are urged to avoid water contact in the advisory area until further notice to prevent potential illness from high bacteria levels.
