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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials said more work to ensure there is a safe water supply for residents impacted by a sewer spill in Clearlake earlier this month is taking place and will continue this week.
The Robin Lane sewage spill incident began on Sunday, Jan. 11, when a 16-inch force main near the northern end of Robin Lane in Clearlake – operated by the Lake County Sanitation District – ruptured
Nearly three million gallons of raw sewage across roads and private properties, contaminating dozens of wells, forcing some residents of the spill area to temporarily relocate and triggering a long-term cleanup effort in a roughly 297-area impact area.
For the last 10 days, the guidance from Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Bernstein has remained unchanged: Those in the spill area who rely on private wells for drinking water are urged to temporarily relocate until their wells are deemed safe after testing.
Bernstein has urged residents to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps; fever or flu-like symptoms; skin rashes or infections; and eye, ear or wound infections.
Lake County Environmental Health, which is overseeing aspects of the cleanup including well testing and long-term monitoring, said its contractors continued health and safety operations in the field on Sunday.
“Field crews are currently sanitizing private wells, including those that have not yet received treatment as well as wells that were previously sanitized but continue to show detectable contamination levels,” the county said in a Sunday evening update.
Environmental Health anticipates initiating a second round of water sampling as early as Monday to verify results and monitor continued improvements in water quality.
The Sunday update’s information on Special Districts remained largely unchanged from Saturday’s.
Special Districts is continuing soil cleanup and removal, as well as water deliveries for livestock in the spill impact area.
Water deliveries for livestock are continuing through the weekend and into the coming week to ensure animals have access to safe drinking water, officials said.
The county also said that water tank installations through the Home Safe program, administered by Social Services, are underway to help residents who need an alternative water supply.
“Additional tank installations are expected to begin on Tuesday, with placement prioritized based on private well testing results,” the county said.
The county said road work on Robin Lane is scheduled to begin Monday.
As part of that road work, Lake County Public Works crews will grade the roadway, remove impacted soil, and apply approximately three inches of base rock to improve road conditions and maintain safe access for residents and response vehicles.
The county will hold its third town hall meeting on the spill and its remediation efforts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
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.
Food assistance: For vouchers and assistance, call Supervisor Bruno Sabatier at 707-695-0834.
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.
Support to mitigate water and sewer-related needs: Call Special Districts at 707-263-0119.
Temporary housing: Call Social Services at 707-995-4200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to request temporary housing. Assistance is available for any household that needs it. Help is no longer limited to elderly/disabled or low-income families. Households that are ineligible for Social Services temporary housing programs will be referred to Church World Service. Church World Service eligibility requirements are: Residents must be impacted by recent sewage flooding; applicants must be vetted through an agency representative (the agency knows the client lives at the address impacted); a confirmed damage assessment is required; clients must have or create an Airbnb account and be able to use the Airbnb app on their phone; clients must have an email address, and the address must be the same address they used to create the Airbnb account.
Water delivery for elderly/disabled: Call Social Services at 707-995-4200, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to request delivery for households physically unable to refill their own water containers.
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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