Morro Bay is the latest California beach to be hit by sewage-related closures. Photo: Jeremy Bishop // Unsplash
Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County is the latest California city to be hit with beach closures due to sewage leaks. Recent issues have been centered around Southern California, such as a pump station failure in San Diego that leaked 300,000 gallons of wastewater and a Los Angeles County spill that released 14,400 gallons of untreated water into Santa Monica Bay. However, the most recent spill in the central California surfing magnet shows that the rest of the state is not immune to bacteria-related closures.
The spill occurred last Sunday, when 7,600 gallons of raw sewage were released into Morro Bay. As Director of Environmental Health Peter Hague told SFGate, the leak was caused by utility work near the Inn at Morro Bay at 60 State Park Road, when a pipeline was hit and ruptured. The inn was notified on June 24th, and the leak was stopped by 6pm. However, Hague added that repairs to the line were delayed due to the fact that the line was located on California parkland that may hold resources significant to Native American culture, requiring clearance from an archaeologist.
There is no public beach access at the location of the sewage release, according to an announcement by San Luis Obispo County. However, as a precaution, beach access locations immediately north and south of the release were posted with advisory signs. The beach closure remained in place until June 26, when bacterial levels fell below state standards for safe water recreation.
“We are relieved to know that the appropriate parties, including the county environmental health department, have been actively reporting and monitoring the situation,” Morro Bay City Manager Yvonne Kimball told New Times of San Luis Obispo
