San Diego officials said they’d test bacteria levels at Ocean Beach to determine when it’s safe to reopen the area after a sewage spill upstream. Photo: Ocean Beach MainStreet Association//Facebook
San Diego County closed a section of Ocean Beach known as “Dog Beach” due to a massive sewage spill. Dog Beach is located at the north end of Ocean Beach, where the San Diego River meets the ocean.
According to a statement issued by the county, 18,000 gallons of sewage spilled at the intersection of Sea World Drive and Friars Road. The statement said 9,000 gallons reached the San Diego River, 2.5 miles upstream from Ocean Beach.
The closure has been in effect since 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, March 25, with no indications of when it will be lifted.
“Sewage contamination signs have been posted in the affected area,” the county said. “Water quality samples will be collected to evaluate the extent of impacts and determine when conditions are safe for reopening.”
The closure affects several surf spots in the area. The river mouth lets out at a jetty wave, and immediately south of the jetty there are several smaller jetties with popular sandbars to surf.
According to the county’s website, this beach is among those sampled weekly, and water quality generally meets state thresholds for acceptable bacteria counts. They do note, however, that due to its location at the mouth of the San Diego River, it is prone to increased bacteria levels during rain events when runoff flows to the ocean.
The county did not say what caused the sewage spill.
