San Diego

Tourmaline Surfing Park was closed Monday by county health officials after it was contaminated by a sewage spill estimated at 300 gallons.

The spill occurred at 9:55 a.m. when a clogged sewer line overflowed from a manhole at Vickie Drive and Castle Hills Drive in Pacific Beach.

A storm drain carried the sewage into the ocean at Tourmaline Surfing Park, a popular surfing beach.

Health officials said that no water samples were taken because of the small size of the spill and the high surf action.

“Three hundred gallons is awfully small, and with the storm surf there now . . . I doubt if we would have any problem (with contamination) in even 12 hours,” said Gary Stephany, director of environmental health services for San Diego County. Warning signs will remain up for 48 hours, Stephany said, which is routine for small spills.

The sewage spill lasted for about an hour, health officials said, before being stopped by city Water Utilities Department workers at 11 a.m.