The Kitsap County Health District has been taking measures to ensure Liberty Bay and Ne-Si-Ka Bay are safe for activities after 350,000 gallons of sewage were dumped into area waters Sept. 18.

A pump at the Brownsville treatment station failed that day, causing raw sewage to spill into the waters of Central and North Kitsap.

As a result, a seven-day no-contact advisory was issued for Liberty Bay, Ne-Si-Ka Bay, Ne-Si-Ka Bay south to Point Bolin, Point Bolin north to Agate Pass Bridge, Agate Pass Bridge south to Battle Point and Keyport south to the Brownsville Marina.

The health district collected 11 samples Sept. 23 for bacterial analysis within Liberty Bay, Ne-Si-Ka Bay and mid-channel off Keyport. Results indicated the marine waters can be reopened for water recreation activities including swimming, wading and water skiing. However, due to the risk of contracting a waterborne illness when contacting any fresh or marine water in Kitsap County, the health district recommends people shower or at least wash their hands immediately after leaving the water and avoid ingesting the water.

The health district has had an ongoing advisory against harvesting shellfish in Liberty Bay due to bacterial contamination and recommends residents to not collect shellfish until Oct. 3. This will give the shellfish time to filter out any pollutants they may have been exposed to during the spill, officials said.

For more information, contact the Kitsap County’s Health District Water Quality Program at (360) 337-5245, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Additional information is available at (800) 2BE-WELL or online at www.kitsapcountyhealth.com.