Crews working fast to prevent another raw sewage spill in Marin County ahead of new storm

ByCornell Barnard KGO logo
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Storm causes sewer to overflow into Petaluma neighborhood
Crews from the Ross Valley Sanitary District say a tremendous amount of water was coming out of one of their sewer lines during Sunday's downpour.

SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (KGO) -- Crews from the Ross Valley Sanitary District say a tremendous amount of water was coming out of one of their sewer lines during Sunday's downpour.

Officials are hoping to avoid a disgusting scene when an estimated 100,000 gallons of wastewater poured into San Anselmo's Morningside neighborhood during Sunday's rainstorm, which overwhelmed a sewer pipe replacement project.

RELATED: Tornadoes hit Santa Cruz in Sunday's winter storm, more wind and rain in forecast

"When the water started to rise we went out to move our cars, it wasn't until later we found out it was raw sewage, and it's happened before," said a neighbor who declined to give her name.

"Obviously it's a tragedy when raw sewage gets into our creeks and into the Bay," said neighbor Cynthia Sawtell.

Signs have been posted around the neighborhood, warning of the sewage spill.

Crews contracted by the Ross Valley Sanitary District were working fast Tuesday afternoon, installing giant pumps to keep stormwater out of the sewer pipes.

The Sanitary District's General Manager was apologetic.

RELATED: Residents preparing for major rain in the North Bay

"For this to happen, we fell short of our standard and our mission, so we're going to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Ross Valley Sanitary District General Manager, Steve Moore.

Moore says the sewage spill is under investigation.