Sewage Overflow : Spill to Keep Sail Bay Closed 2 More Weeks

The Sail Bay area of the Mission Bay aquatic park will remain closed to swimmers and boaters for at least two more weeks as the result of the massive sewage spill that occurred earlier this month and another minor spill that occurred Friday, according to San Diego County health officials.

“We don’t anticipate the bay will open for another two weeks,” said Donald Ramras, health officer with the Department of Health Services. “The main reason is that this part of the bay doesn’t get much tidal flushing to clean it out.”

Both spills were caused when collapsed manhole structures filled sewage lines in Pacific Beach with dirt, causing to sewage to overflow into storm drains that drain into the bay, said Leroy Beadle of the city Water Utilities Department.

On Monday, city workers began to reconstruct the collapsed manhole at Reed Avenue and Haines Street that was responsible for Friday’s spill. Repairs have been completed on the manhole at Haines and Pacific Beach Drive that caused the massive spill on April 3. More than a million gallons of raw sewage poured into the bay during the first spill.

According to Beadle, sulfide gas created by turbulence in the sewage line had eroded the concrete manholes. The city plans to replace other manholes in the area that are in similar condition, he said.

Hotels and other businesses operating on Sail Bay have been hurt by the closure. The San Diego Sailing Center, Mission Bay Sportcenter, Mission Bay Aquatics Center and the Catamaran Resort Hotel have all had to close or curtail their water sports programs.

“We’re a water sports center, and the bay being polluted wipes us out,” said Rich Gleason, manager of the Mission Bay Sportcenter, who estimates his business has been losing $5,000 a week since the western part of the bay was quarantined by county health officials. “It happens every year, always around the same time.”

According to Rick Hoolko, owner of the San Diego Sailing Center, the bay has been closed for three of the last five years during spring break, one of his busiest times of the year.

The Health Services Department’s Ramras said the bay must be tested and determined safe for at least five consecutive days before the quarantine can be lifted.