Sewage spills into Lake Hodges

By: JO MORELAND - Staff Writer | Wednesday, August 23, 2006 11:09 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Most of a 780-gallon sewage spill that started in Escondido went into a creek that empties into Lake Hodges, but much of that sewage flow was trapped later, authorities said Wednesday.

They said Tuesday's spill wasn't expected to affect the San Diego city reservoir's recreational use or the water taken by two North County water districts and used for drinking.

Tedi Jackson, spokeswoman for the San Diego water department, said the Regional Water Quality Control Board told the city that measures the State Department of Transportation uses to protect Lake Hodges from ongoing construction work at the Interstate 15 bridge area captured most of the sewage before it got into the water.

"We're going to verify that," Jackson said Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, county health officials said the spill was caused by a private sewer line that was incorrectly installed at 200 E. Via Rancho Parkway in Escondido.

The line became blocked, and a spill started at 8 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said. They said the spill ended when crews from the city of Escondido removed the blockage, recovering 80 gallons of the sewage.

The remaining 700 gallons flowed into a creek that leads directly to Lake Hodges, which is currently 83 percent full and 110 feet deep, officials said.

Even if much of the spill got into the reservoir, "it's not a lot of water" in a lake that big, said Mark McPherson, spokesman for the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health.

The beautiful North County lake that supplies water for the Santa Fe Irrigation District and the San Dieguito Water District has 27 miles of shoreline that draws boaters and anglers.

Swimming isn't allowed, and drinking water from the lake is treated before use.

McPherson said the lake water is being tested for any possible high coliform bacteria counts that might cause diarrhea or stomach cramps.

In addition, signs warning of sewage contamination were posted where children can get into the creek as it crosses Sunset Drive, he said.

Authorities also notified the State Department of Health Services' Office of Drinking Water about the spill.

It's at least the second time this year that a sewage spill in Escondido headed toward the lake.

All but 500 gallons of a 4,500-gallon spill in early January, apparently caused by a malfunction at an Escondido city pump station, made it into the reservoir.

More recently, the Lake Hodges area and the rest of inland north San Diego were under a "boil water" order early this month when water from a hose spigot at a Rancho Penasquitos home tested positive for E. coli bacteria. The bacteria is found in fecal pollution that can cause diarrhea and cramps.

Test results were negative a day later, and the "boil water" order was canceled. However, the city hasn't been able to determine what caused the single positive E. coli test.

"We probably won't ever know," Jackson said.

Contact staff writer Jo Moreland at (760) 740-3524 or jmoreland@nctimes.com.