Avila Beach was closed for the second time since August because of another sewer spill. The most recent discharge was the result of a backed up sewer line at the San Luis Bay Inn on Oct. 26. According to Curtis Batson, director of Environmental Health for SLO County, about 1,000 gallons backed up and leaked into a storm drain near the inn, eventually draining into the ocean.
“On the scale of things it would be considered a minor spill,” said Batson, who added that the beach was open for swimming the following day. 1000 gallons of sewage going into the Pacific Ocean is only going to have a local effect, said Batson.
In August Avila Beach was closed after a glitch in San Luis Obispo’s sewer system caused around 35,000 gallons of sewage to flow down SLO Creek to Avila.
-J.P.
This article appears in Nov 3-10, 2005.