The site where the sewer pipe failed on the Ventura River. Photo: Courtesy Ojai Valley Sanitary District
California surfers have had a good run the past few weeks as they enjoyed non-stop waves from a “50-year storm.” But it seems that all good things must come to an end, as the same storm that brought killer waves also brought coastal erosion, leading to massive sewage spills in the Ventura, Calif. area that contaminated the water at many popular surf breaks.
The spill initially occurred on January 9, around 6:15 p.m., when excessive rainfall to San Antonio Creek eroded a road shoulder, “washing out a manhole and about 370 feet of pipe,” according to Ojai Valley Sanitary District General Manager Jeff Palmer. Approximately 1.2 million gallons of sewage was released around San Antonio Creek, Ventura River, and the surrounding beaches.
Water sampling is being conducted on an ongoing basis to determine when it will be safe for people to return to the water. In an update on January 10 from the Environmental Health Division, it was reported that the beaches near the Ventura River mouth, such as Emma Wood State Beach and Surfer’s Point, will remain closed until the ocean water returns to its normal quality.
And, as of January 24, the latest water samples indicated that beachgoers should still stay out of the water at all beaches north of the Ventura River to Mondo’s Cove Beach and south of the Ventura River to the Ventura Harbor.
In more positive news, Harbor Cove and Surfer’s Knoll Beach have met the State’s water quality standards and have since reopened. To check the latest water sampling results, use the County of Ventura’s Resource Management Agency’s interactive website here.
