Sewage Spills Amid Storms Topped 8 Million Gallons
By Mike Lee Originally published January 8, 2011 at 3 p.m., updated January 8, 2011 at 9:55 p.m.
Twenty-six sewage spills leaked more than 8 million gallons into local waterways from Dec. 21 through Dec. 28, according to numbers released Friday by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Storm-related sewage spills
| Collection System | Spill Date | Gallons spilled |
|---|---|---|
| Oceanside | 12/28/2010 | 5,500,000 |
| Padre Dam | 12/22/2010 | 1,000,800 |
| La Mesa | 12/21/2010 | 990,000 |
| La Mesa | 12/21/2010 | 293,200 |
| El Cajon | 12/22/2010 | 94,000 |
| County Of San Diego | 12/21/2010 | 90,000 |
| Laguna Beach | 12/22/2010 | 47,000 |
| Oceanside | 12/22/2010 | 40,000 |
| County Of San Diego | 12/21/2010 | 27,000 |
| La Mesa | 12/21/2010 | 18,000 |
| La Mesa | 12/21/2010 | 13,500 |
| Laguna Beach | 12/22/2010 | 11,400 |
| San Diego city | 12/22/2010 | 9,000 |
| Meadowlark | 12/22/2010 | 6,080 |
| San Diego city | 12/27/2010 | 6,000 |
| La Mesa | 12/21/2010 | 6,000 |
| Laguna Beach | 12/22/2010 | 5,000 |
| San Diego city | 12/22/2010 | 3,600 |
| San Diego city | 12/22/2010 | 3,000 |
| San Diego city | 12/21/2010 | 2,380 |
| Meadowlark | 12/22/2010 | 1,500 |
| San Diego city | 12/27/2010 | 1,080 |
| San Diego city | 12/24/2010 | 1,080 |
| Camp Pendleton | 12/21/2010 | 500 |
| Laguna Beach | 12/22/2010 | 200 |
| Laguna Beach | 12/22/2010 | 200 |
The spills were linked to the late-December storms that deluged the region, causing mudslides, traffic accidents and sewage-system upsets.
Oceanside had the biggest problem — 5.5 million gallons of wastewater that fouled Buena Vista Creek, Buena Vista Lagoon and the nearby ocean.
San Diego city suffered seven spills, but none was more than 9,000 gallons. La Mesa reported five overflows totaling about 1.3 million gallons.
Regulators broke the problems into two main categories: those caused by excessive rainwater infiltration into the sewage system and those linked to storm-related damage such as broken pipes.
It’s not clear how the regional board will handle penalties.
“This was an unusual circumstance — 8 million gallons in a week is something I have never dealt with,” said Christopher Means, an environmental scientist for the agency. “We are looking at our (regulatory) options.”
During the rain storms, sewage from Mexico fouled the Tijuana River Valley in the southwestern part of the county.
The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission will talk about recent flooding and its newly expanded sewage treatment plant in San Ysidro at a public meeting on Jan. 20. The “citizens forum” runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Tijuana Estuary Meeting Room, 301 Caspian Way, Imperial Beach.
While water quality will be a main topic of discussion, the meeting also will include a historical look at how the southern boundary of the U.S. was established.
mike.lee@uniontrib.com (619) 293-2034 Twitter @sdenvirobeat
