PORT LUDLOW— A sewage spill into Port Ludlow Bay caused by equipment failure at the wastewater treatment plant is not serious or life-threatening, but the area is now closed to recreation until Saturday.
Jefferson County Public Health has issued a “no contact” health advisory that will remain in effect until then.
The public is advised to avoid any contact with the water in Port Ludlow Bay, including swimming, kayaking, fishing and harvesting of shellfish and seaweed.
Shellfish harvesting is always closed in Port Ludlow due to the proximity of the sewage treatment plant outfall and marina.
Michael Dawson, a water quality specialist with the Jefferson County Department of Environmental Health, said that due to an electrical failure in the chlorinator at the Port Ludlow Wastewater Treatment Plant on Friday, approximately 25,000 gallons of inadequately treated effluent was discharged from the outfall before the problem was corrected at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
He said the effluent exits from a pipe about 400 feet from shore and “should be pretty well dissipated” by the tides.
On Saturday, the agency measured 500 parts of fecal matter per 100 milliliters of water. Any measurement over 100 parts is said to be elevated.
Department of Ecology spokesman Andrew Wineke said Ecology was aware of the incident but has been unable to contact Olympic Water and Sewer officials to follow up.
For more information on this advisory, contact Jefferson County Public Health’s Water Quality Program at 360-385-9444 or go to jeffersoncountypublichealth.org.
