Woman Nearly Dies After Sewage Spill Dumps 85,000 Gallons of Waste into Lake Tahoe

A 24-year-old woman nearly died after swallowing sewage-tainted water in Lake Tahoe last summer, following a massive spill that released about 85,000 gallons of raw waste into the lake near Carnelian Bay.

According to state documents and a government claim filed in July, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, was wakeboarding and surfing near Dollar Point with friends between July 19 and 21, 2024, when she fell seriously ill. She was later hospitalized for weeks, remained unconscious for days, and continues to suffer from long-term health complications caused by E. coli, including renal failure.

Officials say the spill occurred on July 18, 2024, when a Caltrans subcontractor accidentally punctured a sewage pipe operated by the North Tahoe Public Utility District. Wastewater poured across Highway 28 and into Carnelian West Beach, forcing health officials to close the area until July 31, when bacteria levels returned to normal.

The woman and her mother have since filed a tort claim seeking damages from Placer County and other public agencies, alleging they failed to warn or protect the public from known hazards. Their medical bills reportedly total nearly $2 million.

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board later fined the North Tahoe Public Utility District and Caltrans $850,000 for the spill. As part of the settlement, the agencies are also required to build new restrooms and install drinking fountains at nearby Secline Beach.

The woman, who grew up in the greater Sacramento area, said she’s grateful to be alive, but “has not and will not fully recover,” according to the filing.