NEVADA COUNTY, CA – The Environmental Health Department has received notification of a sewage overflow that occurred at the Nevada Sanitation District Operations Facility located at 12622 Pleasant Valley Road in Penn Valley, California. The report via California’s Office of Emergency Services indicated at approximately 1:00 AM on January 7, 2019, Sanitation District Operations noted a faulty diversion valve within the grit system caused the release of approximately 4,000 gallons of sewage into the storm drain that leads to Deer Creek.
As of January 7, 2019 at 7:00 AM the system located at 12622 Pleasant Valley Road is no longer in overflow and Nevada County Sanitation Crews repaired the failed diversion valve.
The public is advised to remain cautious with coming into contact with Deer Creek from the 14000 Block of Mooney Flat Road and 12300 Block of Pleasant Valley Road westward to the 23000 Block of Hydraulic Way located in Smartsville, California.
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) are a diluted mixture of untreated sewage and storm water that are discharged into the storm drain and/or creeks, rivers or stream beds. They occur as a direct result of storm water entering the sanitary sewer system during heavy rain storms. In this particular overflow, the primary plant influential was storm water, therefore the mixture was predominantly storm water versus sewage. The Nevada Sanitation District has sampled Deer Creek at the point of overflow entrance, upstream and downstream and will continue to monitor.
The public is advised to avoid contact with the water in Deer Creek and affected storm drains. This means no swimming, wading or other types of water play where water could be swallowed or get in the mouth, nose or eyes. People should avoid direct skin contact if possible and wash with soap and water if they have exposure to the water.
Bacteria levels can change rapidly with rain events. Except for parks and other facilities where swimming and wading is a sanctioned activity, water monitoring is maintained by the State of California, Water Resources Control Board this link will take you to their main page for more information (www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/water_quality/).