Sewage Spill Closes Part of Ocean Beach
More than 21,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the San Diego River on Thursday, closing the beach where the river empties in Ocean Beach, the County Department of Health Services said.
Rocks and asphalt blocking a sewer main forced sewage to spill from a manhole in the 4200 block of Whittier Street at 7:45 a.m., health department spokeswoman Maricela Ray said.
The sewage flowed into a nearby flood control channel that empties into the San Diego River, Ray said. Some 21,600 gallons flowed into the river before the spill was stopped at 2:45 p.m.
Signs warning of contamination were posted for 100 yards on either side of the mouth of the river in Ocean Beach. Ray said water samples will be taken today to determine when to reopen the area for swimming.
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