A massive sewage overflow has triggered public health alarms and beach closures along a 40-mile stretch of the Sonoma Coast this month.
According to the Press Democrat, the aging Neeley Road wastewater plant in Guerneville released an estimated 5.5 million gallons of untreated sewage into the lower Russian River over a three-day period. Officials say the spill—the largest in over 40 years—occurred after recent atmospheric rivers overwhelmed the system with over four times its daily capacity.
The overflow forced the closure of 13 miles of the river and dozens of miles of coastline as health officials tested for E. coli and other pathogens. While all beaches have since been cleared for swimming, the incident has renewed calls for a total overhaul of the Guerneville sewer network.
Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins warns that the system is “woefully out of date,” but noted that upgrades could cost tens of millions of dollars. State regulators are currently investigating the spill to determine if Sonoma Water will face fines or enforcement actions.
