Feb 14, 2008 6:35 pm US/Pacific
San Quentin's Raw Sewage Leaks Into SF Bay
SAN QUENTIN (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ―
Authorities in Marin County tested the waters in San Francisco Bay Thursday after an estimated 1,500 gallons of raw sewage escaped from the state prison at San Quentin.
It was the third time in less than a month that sewage has spilled into the bay from a facility located in Marin County.
Marin County emergency services coordinator Janell Myhre said a pump failure at the prison about 10:30 a.m. Thursday caused the sewage to leak onto a parking lot. Prison officials tried to contain the spill with sandbags, but it oozed into the bay anyway.
Officials have "taken action to contain the spill and conduct initial water testing," Myhre said.
The Marin County Sheriff's Office advised people to stay out of the water near Point San Quentin until further notice. They also posted warning signs in the area, which is home to a popular windsurfing spot.
This latest spill comes on the heels of two others recently by the Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin in which 5 million gallons of sewage was accidentally dumped into nearby Richardson Bay.
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