Sewage Spill Totals Worse Than Feared

An estimated 40,000 gallons of diluted, untreated sewage flowed out of a ruptured sewer line under Liberty Ship Way before the leak was fixed, Sausalito-Marin City Sanitation District general manager Bob Simmons said.
     
The 14-inch diameter sewer line was punctured when a construction crew that was installing a high-speed Internet cable in the area of Liberty Ship Way and Marinship Avenue for an office building drilled through the main force line in the fall, Simmons said.

"We met with them at the time and told them where the main line was. They barely missed a gas line," Simmons said this afternoon.

The sanitary district hopes to recover the costs of the repairs from the construction company, Simmons said. He did not recall the name of  the company installing the communications cable.

That portion of the sewage line is used only during heavy flows from storms and had not been used since October, Simmons said.

The district was notified of the leak at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Simmons said.

"We weren't sure what was broken. The leak was coming through  cracks in the pavement," Simmons said. The system was shut down at 1:45 p.m. and the leak was fixed with clamps and sealed at 7:30 p.m., he said. The pipe  will be replaced after the rainy season, Simmons said.

The 40,000 gallons of storm water-diluted and untreated sewage  came through cracks in the roadway, near the curb and through a PG&E manhole and flowed into Richardson Bay at the foot of Liberty Ship Way, Simmons.
     
Signs that have been posted warning people to stay out if the  water will remain until there are three consecutive clean water tests, Simmons said. flowed out of a ruptured sewer line under Liberty Ship Way before the leak was fixed, Sausalito-Marin City Sanitation District general manager Bob Simmons said.
     
The 14-inch diameter sewer line was punctured when a construction crew that was installing a high-speed Internet cable in the area of Liberty Ship Way and Marinship Avenue for an office building drilled through the main force line in the fall, Simmons said.

"We met with them at the time and told them where the main line was. They barely missed a gas line," Simmons said this afternoon.

The sanitary district hopes to recover the costs of the repairs from the construction company, Simmons said. He did not recall the name of  the company installing the communications cable.

That portion of the sewage line is used only during heavy flows from storms and had not been used since October, Simmons said.

The district was notified of the leak at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Simmons said.

"We weren't sure what was broken. The leak was coming through  cracks in the pavement," Simmons said. The system was shut down at 1:45 p.m. and the leak was fixed with clamps and sealed at 7:30 p.m., he said. The pipe  will be replaced after the rainy season, Simmons said.

The 40,000 gallons of storm water-diluted and untreated sewage  came through cracks in the roadway, near the curb and through a PG&E manhole and flowed into Richardson Bay at the foot of Liberty Ship Way, Simmons.
     
Signs that have been posted warning people to stay out if the  water will remain until there are three consecutive clean water tests, Simmons said.

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