Sewer-line break on O.B. Pier

On Thursday evening (December 14th), a city truck was seen clearing out the people on the Ocean Beach Pier shortly after sunset. This morning it remained closed and still is, but not because big waves pose a danger to pedestrians.

“The sewer line busted,” a city General Services employee told me while grabbing gloves out of his truck. “We don’t know what happened. Last night one of my coworkers got an emergency call that [sewage] was spewing out, right here onto the sand — it didn’t go in the water — but the sewage pipe broke and the wastewater guys got here last night and shut the pier down.”

A representative form the City of San Diego’s Water Department confirmed they received a call via the emergency number at approximately 5:47 p.m. on Thursday evening. The report read: “Substance coming out of pipe at parking lot under the OB Pier.” The city dispatched a representative from the Water Department who, in turn, called someone from the Sewer Department, who called a plumber from General Services for repair.

“We’ll be done tomorrow,” the employee said. “We’re waiting for a lift to be delivered so we can access the pipe along the pier…. This is the only sewage line, there isn’t one on the other side.” The location of the break is directly under the stairs, which are also inaccessible until repairs are completed.

The OB Pier is 1971 feet in length; according to one of the workers, the entire sewage line running the length of the north side of the pier needs to be replaced.

Because no sewage made it to the ocean (according to the worker), no ocean-water hazard signs were posted; however, this week tides have been higher than average. This morning’s high tide measured 5.8 feet.