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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The county of Lake on Monday issued its latest update on the aftermath of the Robin Lane sewer spill, with most health recommendations remaining in place and a town hall set for midweek.
The spill, which began on Sunday, Jan. 11, lasted a day and a half but the impacts are expected to be ongoing, with no end yet in sight.
Lake County Special Districts operates the 16-inch force main on Robin Lane that ruptured early on Jan. 11. The county’s latest report submitted late last week to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services estimated the total size of the spill at 2.9 million gallons.
The Monday evening update included few new details, but did adjust the size of the sewage spill area.
An assessment of the new map puts the total area now at about 328 acres, down from an estimated 357 acres in the area east of Smith Lane, west of Old Highway 53, south of Pond Road and north of Bowers Avenue.
A town hall meeting to update the community is set to be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan, 21, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
Residents of the area have reported that there are still individuals who have not been notified of the spill and may still be drinking their well water, with some issues with sewage-related illness reportedly occurring.
The county reported that Special Districts crews are currently locating a 10-inch sewer force main, but offered little further explanation outside of noting that “potholing operations are underway to identify and confirm the exact location of the line.”
Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Bernstein’s recommendation that property owners in the spill area temporarily relocate until their wells are deemed safe remains in place.
The county said well sanitization is ongoing, with residents advised to call Environmental Health at 707-263-1164 to schedule the services. Officials said proactive well sanitization can help protect water quality and reduce potential health risks.
Regarding well sanitization, the county reported, “Significant progress was made over the holiday weekend, and we are grateful to those property owners who have made contact to facilitate this critical work.”
Environmental Health is due to resume sampling in the sewage release impact area at 5 a.m. Tuesday.
“Environmental Health staff will be in the area throughout the day tomorrow, working with sampling teams and drillers to facilitate data collection. This work is essential to support any changes to health guidance and DO NOT USE notices, for example. Many thanks to all residents who have authorized this critical data gathering,” the county reported.
Officials are considering options for soil management, with residents to be notified of road impacts.
Road work is expected to first occur near Pamela Lane, with the Robin Lane to follow; planning and coordination are ongoing for both areas at this time. Work on Pamela Lane is expected to begin on Friday, the county said.
The county also published a post on its Facebook account saying that staff responding to the incident “have received reports of unconfirmed ‘charities’ making contact with individuals affected by the event.”
However, responses to that post from spill area residents suggested it was a matter of people offering assistance and information.
Available resources
County officials direct spill area residents to the following resources.
ADA showers: Available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday at the Clearlake Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.
Avoiding scams after a disaster: Visit this link, https://bit.ly/4jP8A1Z.
Drinking water: Highlands Water Co. offers a free public water filling station from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 14580 Lakeshore Drive. Please bring your own jugs or bottles.
Drinking water guidance and information on testing of private wells: Contact Environmental Health at 707-263-1164.
Relocation: Affected residents are directed to first contact their homeowner’s insurance provider to inquire about coverage for temporary lodging under their policy. Residents may also contact Lake County Special Districts at 707-263-0119 for additional assistance and guidance.
Showers, laundry services and potable water: A mobile laundry and hygiene service trailer is available to the public at the entrance to the wastewater treatment plant located at 2485 Pond Road. It includes two laundry sets, with the ability to bring in a larger trailer if additional capacity is needed. Residents can drop off their laundry with on-site staff, who will tag each load with a number, then wash, dry, and fold items before returning them in a clean bag. The unit also includes a double-shower setup (family) and three sinks large enough to wash dishes. A separate family shower area is available and includes one sink, two showers, and a bench, providing space for families and individuals to clean up comfortably and safely. For potable water, members of the public are asked to bring their own water containers. Special Districts staff are on site to assist the public, and a 24-hour call-answering service is available to respond to inquiries related to Special Districts services.
Support to mitigate water and sewer-related needs: Call Special Districts at 707-263-0119.
Well sanitization services: To schedule well sanitization services or for more information, please contact Environmental Health at 707-263-1164. Environmental Health staff are available to review your location, confirm whether your property falls within the mapped area and provide guidance on appropriate next steps.
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