Goleta Beach reopens after sewage spill
Update: 3:20 p.m. Thursday
Santa Barbara County officials reopened Goleta Beach on Thursday, a day after 2,500 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into a creek that winds its way to the beach.
According to Goleta Sanitary District general manager Steve Wagner, a rain stopper had partially plugged up a sewer line and caused the backed-up sewage to overflow a manhole and into the creek.
Crews had sucked the sewage back into the unplugged line and cleaned up the creek by Wednesday evening.
Bacteria testing was conducted, and results indicated Thursday “that water quality meets or exceeds state health standards,” the Public Health Department said.
Original story
Officials closed Goleta Beach on Wednesday after 1,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into a creek in the area between Goleta and Santa Barbara.
The spill occurred at Nogal and Nueces drives near Vieja Valley Elementary School, sending the sewage into Cieneguitas Creek, which flows to Goleta Beach, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department
Public health officials asked beachgoers to avoid swimming or touching the water within a quarter mile of where the Goleta Slough meets the ocean, just east of the pier.
People are also asked to avoid harvesting shellfish in the area for 10 days, because they’re bottom feeders that are more susceptible to contamination.
Noozhawk staff writer Sam Goldman can be reached at sgoldman@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
This story was originally published April 26, 2017 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Goleta Beach reopens after sewage spill."