PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Health Department closed Hollywood Beach and Valley Creek Estuary to water recreation today after about 100,000 gallons of untreated sewage spilled into Port Angeles Harbor early this morning.
The sewage spilled into the harbor after a wastewater pumping station near the estuary was taken offline for about four hours. The facility at 313 Marine Drive was damaged when a driver collided with it at about 2:30 a.m.
The sewage overflow occurred at about 5 a.m. when a storage area, known as a “wet well,” became full because the pumping station was disabled, said Glenn Cutler, city public works and utilities director.
Crews had restored electricity to the station by 6:30 a.m.
The beach and estuary are closed to such activities as swimming, wading and kayaking until bacteria test results indicate the water is safe for contact recreation.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
