Sewage spill into South Lake Tahoe storm drain

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A sewer blockage at a home on Kokanee Trail sent sewage into the street gutter and flowing into a storm drain Friday morning in South Lake Tahoe.

South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) received a call at 8:15 a.m. October 12 reporting a leak in the 3000 block of Kokanee Trail. Upon investigation they found the spill and immediately responded with a vactor truck and suctioned up the overflow to prevent additional sewage from flowing into the storm drain. Once the
spill was stopped, the crew worked to clean it up.

“Our community’s support to invest in clean-up equipment allowed our crew to quickly respond and minimize the environmental damage caused by spill,” says Chris Stanley, Manager of Field Operations at the District.

A sewer lateral, the sewer pipe that connects a home to the District’s sewer main in the street, is the responsibility of the homeowner.

“Blocked sewer laterals and spills are usually caused by tree roots growing into the pipe, pouring fats, oils and grease down the drain, and/or flushing anything other than human waste and toilet paper,” says Stanley. Homeowners are encouraged to do routine preventative maintenance to avoid costly sewer spills.