Leadbetter Beach Sewage Spill
updated: Dec 03, 2012, 1:52 PM

Source: City of Santa Barbara

The City of Santa Barbara received a phone call at 8:10 a.m. this morning from a local resident reporting that the sewer manhole near her house had been had been overflowing since noon yesterday. City staff responded and cleaned the line clearing a root blockage and stopping the spill by 8:30 a.m. However, given the time between when the resident noticed the spill and when it was reported, staff are estimating that 6,600 gallons of sewage were spilled. The section of sewer main where the spill occurred had been recently rehabilitated and lined with a continuous plastic liner. Subsequent closed circuit television inspection of the sewer main revealed that roots causing the blockage had grown into the main from a private lateral.

Water from the spill flowed down Luneta Plaza into a storm drain inlet at the west end of the street. From there it flowed in the stormdrain to the point at Ledbetter where it discharged down the cliffs to the ocean. To prevent public contact with the untreated sewage, the beach at Ledbetter was closed. It is expected to remain closed until water quality tests show it is safe.

Although staff conduct regular checks of the sewer system, there are over 7,000 manholes in the City and we are reliant on the public to notify us of sewage spills. The City has staff on-call at all times and the public is urged to report any suspected sewage spills as quickly as possible. During regular business hours people should call 564-5413. After hours, nights and weekends please call 963-4286.

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