BREMERTON — The Kitsap Public Health District today issued seven-day no-contact advisories due to a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) in Bremerton and sewer and stormwater overflows in Poulsbo. The first no-contact advisory is for Liberty Bay and the second is for Sinclair Inlet and Port Washington Narrows. Both advisories will be in effect through Wednesday, Jan. 27.
The City of Bremerton reported a CSO of 59,470 gallons of sewer and stormwater that occurred between approximately 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 21. This CSO, caused by heavy rainfall, occurred at an outfall located at the end of High St. For more information on CSOs and Bremerton’s efforts to reduce CSOs, visit the City of Bremerton’s website.
According to the City of Poulsbo Public Works Department, a sewer and stormwater overflow is occurring near the intersection of State Highway 305 and NE Sol Vei St. south of Poulsbo, and is flowing through the city’s storm water collection system to Liberty Bay, near the Liberty Bay Marina. As of 3 p.m. Jan. 21, the overflow was estimated at 40,000 gallons.
A second overflow near the Lemolo area of Poulsbo was reported by Kitsap County Public Works. In that overflow, sewer and stormwater is overflowing from a manhole near the intersection of Tukwila and Norum Roads due to high flows caused by heavy rainfall. That overflow was estimated at 5,000 gallons as of 3 p.m. Jan. 21, and is also impacting Liberty Bay.
Both systems are still overflowing. Kitsap Public Health will release additional information on these spills Jan. 22.
During a no-contact advisory, the public is advised to avoid contact with the water in the affected area. This means no swimming, wading or types of water play where water could be swallowed or get in the mouth, nose or eyes. People should also avoid direct skin contact if possible, and immediately wash with soap and water if they have exposure to the water. Boats and kayaks should also be cleaned after exposure to the affected area.
Kitsap Public Health also recommends not harvesting shellfish anywhere in Kitsap County during and following heavy rain events, due to the increased risk of illness from water-borne pathogens and pollution. For up-to-date information on shellfish harvesting throughout Kitsap County, visit www.kitsappublichealth.org/shellfish. The District’s website also provides some important reminders for staying safe and healthy during heavy rainfalls and storms.
Kitsap Public Health provides information on shellfish harvesting, beach closures and other public health topics via the District’s website, Facebook page and the Kitsap Electronic Notification System (KENS). Sign-up at www.kitsappublichealth.org/subscribe.
For information on the Bremerton CSO, please contact: Pat Coxon, Department of Public Works & Utilities wastewater manager for the City of Bremertonm, 360-473-5400 or pat.coxon@ci.bremerton.wa.us. For more information on the Poulsbo / Liberty Bay Marina spill, please contact: Mike Lund with the City of Poulsbo, 360-779-4078. For more information on the Lemolo overflow, please contact: Patrick Kongslie, Operations Supervisor for Kitsap County, 360-981-1765. For more information on the no-contact advisories, please contact: Stuart Whitford, Kitsap Public Health District program manager, 360-377-5674 or stuart.whitford@kitsappublichealth.org, or contact Karen McKay Bevers, Kitsap Public Health District public information officer, 360-307-4252 or karen.bevers@kitsappublichealth.org.
— Edited by Michelle Beahm
