The Beach Closures due to the sewage spill have been lifted, according to an update from the Monterey County Health Department yesterday evening:
“However, all Monterey County Beaches have been posted with a rain advisory due to the current weather. The public is advised not to have ocean water contact for three days after today’s rain event.
Monterey One Water (formerly the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency) reported to the Environmental Health Bureau that sewage had spilled into Monterey Bay due to an equipment failure (headworks bar screen) at their wastewater treatment facility in Marina. The release was stopped at 4:30 am on the 20th of January. The spill has been estimated to be as much as 4.9 million gallons.
Samples taken on January 21, 2018 reveal indicator bacteria levels considered safe for recreational contact according to state guidelines.
Contact with contaminated water may cause gastroenteritis and other water borne illnesses. It is recommended that you do not swim in or have contact with storm drain water. Bacteria, viruses, protozoa or chemicals may contaminate storm drain water, and contact with storm drain water may cause illness.
For more information on Monterey Peninsula Beaches please call the Hotline at (800) 347-6363 or visit our web site at www.mtyhd.org/beaches”