5,800 Gallons of Sewer Water Overflows Near Highway 1

Early Friday morning, approximately 5,800 gallons of wastewater overflowed out of the ground from a sewer main near Highway 1 and Fassler Avenue in Pacifica.

Crews responded immediately at 4 a.m. to the overflow, the equivalent of 12 large jacuzzis full of water. They contained about 4,000 gallons of the water in the south area of Rockaway Beach by 5:30 a.m. The rest of the 1,800 gallons flowed into the Pacific Ocean and resulted in the closure of Rockaway Beach.

Warning signs on barricades at the entrances to Rockaway Beach told visitors that the beach was closed.

The cause of the overflow appears to be from a crack or fracture in a pipe in an old sewer main.

If an analysis determines the pipe to be the cause of the overflow, the city will open the sewer main, remove any remaining wastewater and repair the pipe to prevent future accidents.

Samples of the Pacifica Ocean have been taken and the city will know the results of the samples Saturday. A visual inspection of the beach has shown no signs of impact to the area, according to a press release from the city.  

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• Hilltop Grocery in HMB Closes (Again); Peruvian Restaurant to Open in Pacifica