Carnelian Bay Sewer Spill

Emergency Incident Update: Carnelian Bay Sewer Spill

As of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19^th, emergency response crews from the North Tahoe Public Utility District have completed the initial cleanup and remediation of the sewage spill site in Carnelian Bay, as a result of a private contractor striking the District’s main sewer export pipeline.

With support from neighboring utilities, NTPUD utility crews were able to wash and disinfect the entire impacted area above and adjacent to Lake Tahoe. Carnelian Bay West and Patton Landing Beach remain closed to the public until further notice and a public health advisory is still in effect for the shoreline northeast from Carnelian West Beach to Manzanita Avenue and southwest to 4600 North Lake Boulevard. Additional work to repair damage to landscaped areas near the shoreline will be done in the coming days.

The NTPUD’s main sewer export pipeline was repaired and the District’s wastewater system is operating as normal. District engineers and utility operation managers will continue to monitor the incident site and pipeline repair.

The NTPUD estimates that approximately 125,000 gallons of untreated sewage discharged from the District’s export pipeline at the break site. Emergency response crews were able to collect approximately 40,000 gallons of the spill at the site and return it to the export system immediately. The remaining 85,000 gallons flowed through the nearby parking lot and into Lake Tahoe.

The NTPUD took water samples from the site and the surrounding area and is awaiting test results.

Please stay tuned to our website and our NTPUD social media channel for further updates as they become available.

Thank you.

For all media inquiries – please reach out to Justin Broglio, NTPUD Public Information Officer at (530) 414-8401 or [email protected]. 

Lake visitors are advised that bacteria levels may be high in the area and that water contact could cause illness.

The advisory area covers the shoreline northeast from Carnelian West Beach to Manzanita Avenue and southwest to 4600 North Lake Boulevard.

The California Tahoe Conservancy has ordered its Patton Beach and Carnelian West Beach closed until further notice as the North Tahoe Public Utility District continues its cleanup of the affected beach areas.

Placer County environmental health specialists are posting advisory notices along lakeshore access areas and notifying lakeshore property owners.

At approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, a private contractor working in Carnelian Bay struck the NTPUD’s main sewer export pipeline. Sewage from the pipeline overflowed into the nearby parking lot and reached Lake Tahoe.

Crews from the NTPUD were on scene immediately and the pipeline has been repaired.

All local and water quality agencies have been notified and the NTPUD is working in consultation with Placer County Environmental Health to sample and test the water quality.

There is no risk to the public drinking water system. Those with properties on private water from the lake in the advisory area should be aware that bacteria levels may be higher than they normally are for a period of time.

Initial water quality test results are expected within the next 24 hours. Placer County and the NTPUD will provide updates on the advisory and closure areas as test results are evaluated.

For public questions about the advisory and related health risks, contact:

Placer County
530-745-2300
[email protected]

For questions about the beach cleanup efforts, sewer impacts or beach closures, contact:

North Tahoe Public Utility District
Justin Broglio
530-414-8401
[email protected]