Water quality results after sewer spill at Fallen Leaf Lake

Submitted by paula on Mon, 07/29/2024 - 5:59pm

TUESDAY UPDATE: The six samples collected 36 hours after Sunday morning's spill showed bacteria counts, including e.coli, back to baseline at all sampling sites. The warning signs have been removed.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Results from the six water samples collected at Fallen Leaf Lake after Sunday morning's sewage spill show elevated levels of total coliform, including e.coli, at the point of entry and 150 feet north of the sewer spill. The bacteria levels detected are below the requirements for beach closures.

At 12:19 a.m. Sunday, July 28, a broken valve at one of South Tahoe Public Utility District’s sewer pump stations resulted in five to ten gallons of

sewage spilling into Fallen Leaf Lake. The total spill was about 40 gallons with the rest not making it to the lake.

Warning signs will remain in place until bacteria levels decrease to baseline. Ammonia, which is the main indicator of sewage in water, was not detected at any of the six sites.

Additional water samples were collected on the morning of Monday, July 29, 2024, and results will be available on Tuesday.

Read the original story: https://southtahoenow.com/story/07/28/2024/40-gallons-sewage-spill-manhole-fallen-leaf-lake-results-...