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 December
19, 2007.
There are currently no reported sewage spills
in Kitsap County.
For more information,
please contact the Health District's Water Quality Program at
(360) 337-5235, Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 5 pm.
