Nevada City, Calif. – On Nov. 20, the County identified a sewer spill at Lift Station #23 nearDove Loop that had occurred between Nov. 18 and Nov. 20, entering into Lake Wildwood as a result of an operational error during scheduled testing. The Nevada County Sanitation District takes full responsibility for this incident.
The spill has been reported to the State Water Resources Control Board, Cal OES and Lake Wildwood Association. Cleanup and water quality testing began immediately and the situation is now contained. The County is reviewing our procedures to prevent this from happening again.
Water quality testing results are expected within 24 to 48 hours. Testing results will be posted and updated at nevadacountyca.gov/lwwspill. Until those results are available, residents should avoid contact with the lake water out of an abundance of caution.
Important Safety Notes
- Lake Wildwood’s large volume provides strong dilution capacity.
- Heavy rainfall during the incident further reduced potential impacts.
- Cooler seasonal temperatures limit bacterial growth.
Updates will be provided at nevadacountyca.gov/lwwspill as they become available to keep the community informed.