Treasure Island has become a little more soiled after a sewage line broke on the island Saturday, spewing 67,600 gallons of waste water across the streets and into the bay.
The incident first came to public attention on the Emergency_IN_SF twitter page. San Francisco Public Utilities Commission spokesperson Tyrone Jue later told the Examiner that the spill broke out at 1 PM on the east side of Avenue M and Third Street. Within the hour DPW and DPH had contained the spillage.
Jue also told reporters that initial water samples have come back showing high levels of bacteria, prompting officials to post warnings against swimming in the Bay.
According to information given to the California Emergency Management Agency, the US Navy is being listed as the responsible party, though this is due to the location of the spill, and not to any negligence on their part. No further action will be taken beyond posting no swimming signs, and the sewage will be allowed to dissipate “naturally” into the bay. The PUC has stated that there are no pressing emergency management issues at this time, and has yet to make an estimate on when they will complete the repairs
The Appeal has contacted Tyrone Jue at the Public Utilities Commission to find any further information regarding toxicity levels in the bay, as well as information about the cause of the leak. We will keep you posted.
