Emergency Incident Update: Carnelian Bay Sewer Spill
As of 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19th, 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].