UPDATE July 25 5 p.m. – Patton Beach is now open to the public after it was closed for a week due to high bacterial levels following a sewage spill on July 18.

Authorities reopened the beach at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 25 and announced bacteria levels over recent days have returned to a normal range and are within California beach water quality standards. Areas east of the spill site have also returned to a normal range.

Meanwhile Carnelian West Beach remains closed due to elevated bacterial levels. Authorities expect it to remain closed through at least Sunday, July 28.

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Contact with the lake water there could cause illness.

Officials are continuing to evaluate water quality sample results daily. NTPUD says officials will lift or modify health advisories after at least two days of data showing levels are consistently below California beach water quality standards.

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This follows the July 18 spill where a private contractor struck a North Tahoe Public Utility District main sewer export pipeline, sending 85,000 gallons of sewage into Lake Tahoe.

CARNELIAN BAY, Calif. – Placer County has issued a health advisory in the Carnelian Bay area of Lake Tahoe following a sewage spill that reached the lake on the evening of July 18.

Lake visitors are advised that bacteria levels may be high in the area and that water contact
could cause illness.

The advisory area covers the shoreline northeast from Carnelian West Beach to Manzanita Avenue and southwest to 4600 North Lake Boulevard.

The California Tahoe Conservancy has ordered its Patton Beach and Carnelian West Beach closed until further notice as the North Tahoe Public Utility District continues its cleanup of the affected beach areas.

Placer County environmental health specialists are posting advisory notices along lakeshore access areas and notifying lakeshore property owners.

At approximately 8 p.m. on Thursday, a private contractor working in Carnelian Bay struck the NTPUD’s main sewer export pipeline. Sewage from the pipeline overflowed into the nearby parking lot and reached Lake Tahoe.

Crews from the NTPUD were on scene immediately and the pipeline has been repaired.

All local and water quality agencies have been notified and the NTPUD is working in consultation with Placer County Environmental Health to sample and test the water quality.

There is no risk to the public drinking water system. Those with properties on private water from the lake in the advisory area should be aware that bacteria levels may be higher than they normally are for a period of time.

Due to elevated levels of bacteria present in water quality test taken over the weekend, the Carnelian Bay West Beach and Patton Landing Beach will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Water quality samples are being taken daily from the Lake Tahoe shoreline at and near the spill site. The laboratory analysis requires 24-hours to process, and health officials are evaluating the results as they come in. The health advisory will remain in effect until bacteria levels in the water return to a normal level.