In the immediate aftermath of a sewage spill at Carmel Valley Ranch on Aug. 6 and then another on Aug. 16, California American Water officials were out on the scene right away, seeking to contain the overflow.
Paperwork moves much slower. Months later, in response to a notice of violation issued on Oct. 26 by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Cal Am has filed a technical report explaining what the utility believes happened.
“The overflow incidents occurred as a result of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) blockages in the collection line, causing untreated domestic wastewater (sewage) discharging into several nearby storm drains that lead to the Carmel Valley River,” according to Cal Am’s Nov. 15 response. “The effort to unblock the collection line during the first incident was not completely successful, resulting in the second spill.”
According to the water board’s findings, “Due to the proximity of the storm drain to the manhole and the County [Environmental Health Bureau of the Monterey County Health Department]’s observation that sandbags were not effective in stopping the overflow from entering the storm drain, Central Coast Water Board staff assume that up to 1,200 gallons of sewage discharged to the storm drain.”
Cal Am agrees that the first spill – in which an estimated 647 gallons of sewage were released – ended up almost entirely in a storm drain leading to the Carmel River. They say in the second incident, a berm was effective, so “very little was released to the Carmel River” and most of that leak was absorbed by the golf course.
According to the company’s report, since the spills it has done additional cleaning; engaged in outreach on FOG management to Carmel Valley Ranch residents and the resort restaurant; and plans to conduct future sewer system maintenance in keeping with an updated plan.
The water board will consider Cal Am’s report and may choose to issue fines of up to $10,000 for each spill.