Sewage spills

Sewage spills from wastewater treatment plants or their collection systems represent a threat to public and environmental health due to the potential for public exposure to disease-causing organisms and the contamination of surface and ground waters. Operators of wastewater treatment plants and their collection systems are required to report sewage spills to the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Health District in accordance with their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit.
The Health District responds to sewage spills on a local level providing quick and effective public notification and ensuring that warning signs are posted in the immediate area of the spill and at public access areas bordering surface waters impacted by the spill. The Health District also makes sure that the operator of the treatment plant or collection system cleans up the spill to the extent practical. The Health District has recorded sewage spills since 1993, and has had spill reporting procedures in place since that time. Click here to review the procedures.

This message was updated on June 17 , 2009

There are no sewage spill advisories currently in effect.

For current swimming beach or shellfish closures within Kitsap County, call our hotline number: 1-800-2BE-WELL or visit us online at www.kitsapcountyhealth.com. For shellfish closures in other areas of Washington, call the Washington State Department of Health’s Red Tide Hotline at 1-800-562-5632, or visit them online at www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm.