Power outage causes sewage spills; San Diego area beaches closed

[Omaha Steve]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/power-outage-sewage-spill-san-diego-beach-close.html

September 9, 2011 | 1:55 pm

The widespread Southern California power outage Thursday cut electricity to wastewater pumps and released more than 2 million gallons of sewage into the ocean, closing 10 miles of San Diego County shoreline.

Beaches from the Scripps Pier in La Jolla north to Solana Beach have been posted with signs warning of sewage contamination and will be closed to swimmers through the weekend, county health officials said.

A pump station started overflowing after losing power about 5:50 p.m. Thursday and spilled 1.9 million gallons of sewage into Los Penasquitos Lagoon, emptying into the ocean at Torrey Pines State Beach, said Mark McPherson, chief of land and water quality for the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.

PHOTOS: Blackout leaves millions without power

The spill was stopped 3-1/2 hours later when power was restored.

FULL story at link.