Bellingham beach closed due to ‘serious’ sewage spill
Sep 12, 2024, 12:27 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2024, 9:53 am
A Bellingham beach is temporarily closed after a sewage line was hit and 25,000 to 50,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled out. (Photo courtesy of The City of Bellingham)
(Photo courtesy of The City of Bellingham)
A Bellingham beach is temporarily closed after a sewage line was hit.
According to The Bellingham Herald, officials are calling the spill “serious” as 25,000 to 50,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled out at Bloedel Donovan beach Wednesday.
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Around 5 p.m. a contractor driving piles into the lake inadvertently hit an underground sewer line, reported the City of Bellingham in a news release. The city noted its technology showed the sewer line was in a different spot.
The city said action was quickly taken to stop the spill. Workers shut the line off and sewer service was redirected to an adjacent line, restoring service to the area.
Bloedel Donovan Park beach access remains temporarily closed as a precautionary measure and will be back open when water quality testing shows there are no residual concerns, according to the city. Community members, including dogs, should avoid the water until then.
“While we anticipate that the spill will dilute as it mixes with other waters, we are monitoring the situation closely to assess any potential downstream or ecological effects,” the release stated.
The sewage will disperse as it mixes with water from Lake Whatcom, according to The Herald. Lake Whatcom provides drinking water for approximately 100,000 Bellingham-area residents.
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The city said it is closely monitoring the situation and is working with contractors and regulatory agencies to ensure public safety. More updates will be provided when information is available.
Bloedel Donovan Park is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. The park features barbecue grills, picnic tables, a playground, community buildings, multipurpose fields, an outdoor basketball court and more.
Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.
