Sewage Release Impacting Chorro Creek
Author: Public Health Department
Date: 11/15/2019 4:50 PM
On November 14, 2019, approximately 33,000 gallons of partially treated sewage was released from the California Men’s Colony due to a mechanical malfunction at the prison’s wastewater treatment plant.
The partially treated sewage was unintentionally discharged into Chorro Creek, which feeds into the Morro Bay Estuary. The discharge was stopped within 15 minutes.
The partially treated sewage had failed to go through the final treatment process. The ultraviolet treatment system lost power at the prison and the sewage was treated to secondary standards but failed to go through the final UV treatment process.
The County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department was on scene to ensure appropriate measures were taken to properly clean and sanitize the area and post warning signs in areas impacted by the sewage spill.
The Public Health Department advises the public to stay out of Chorro Creek and the Estuary following the release.
