Pity for the Spanish

On Thursday, March 5, beaches at Spanish Landing and Shelter Island re-opened after being closed due to a sewage spill.

The spill, which began at 10:35 a.m. on March 4, released approximately 1400 gallons of sewage at the intersection of Roosevelt and Truxtun roads in the Liberty Station area of Point Loma.

The spill ended at 10:55 a.m. after wastewater crews from the City of San Diego removed a grease blockage from the sewer line. The crews were able to recover approximately 100 gallons of sewage. The remaining 1300 gallons flowed into a storm drain that led to San Diego Bay.

Signs were immediately posted at Spanish Landing and Shelter Island beaches, warning swimmers of the potential danger of contamination.

“Grease blockages are the second-leading cause of sewage spills,” said Brian Drummy of the city Wastewater Department. He added that grease is often poured down the drain by both restaurants and homeowners. The best way to dispose of grease, according to Drummy, is to wipe it up with a paper towel or store it in a container before disposing of it in the garbage.