UPDATE (7:11 p.m., Nov. 15) - A California Men's Colony representative says the treated wastewater that was released into Chorro Creek on Thursday did not contain any raw sewage.
The discharge was reportedly the result of a mechanical malfunction that was triggered by an electrical fluctuation at the prison's wastewater treatment plant.
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UPDATE (4:16 p.m., Nov. 15) - County officials say the beach closure for Morro Bay was lifted Friday.
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(Nov. 14) - Thousands of gallons of sewage have impacted Chorro Creek in the San Luis Obispo area, prompting warning signs to go up.
San Luis Obispo County’s public health department said it happened when around 33,000 gallons of sewage were released from the California Men’s Colony around 10:13 a.m. Thursday.
“The ultraviolet system lost power at the prison causing the premature release of the material, therefore the sewage was treated to secondary standards but failed to go through the final UV treatment process,” health officials said in a press release.
The leak was stopped but not before it impacted Chorro Creek, officials say.
People are advised to stay out of the creek and estuary and a beach closure has been issued for Morro Bay near the creek outfall.
