Two sewage spills occurred during weekend

Two small sewage spills dumped effluent into one Nevada County stream over the weekend and perhaps another, according to the Environmental Health Department.

"We always call them small when they're 1,000 gallons or less," department spokesman Kurtis Zumwalt said. Blockage in a line caused effluent to come up through a manhole cover Saturday morning in Nevada City above Pioneer Park.

The spill went into Little Deer Creek, which was posted with a warning for people and their pets to avoid through the park and along Miners Trail, which leads into downtown. The warning tape will probably remain in place until the current storm system passes through today, Zumwalt said.

The second spill occurred at Tall Pines Mobile Home Park, just south of Grass Valley, when the pipe leading from the park's septic tank to its leach field broke. That caused effluent to go into the storm drain system and eventually into a neighboring pond, Zumwalt said.

The effluent could have reached Wolf Creek, but dye put into the pond water to identify the effluent did not show up downstream in the creek. The pond has several sources, and the effluent is expected to dissipate soon, Zumwalt said.

Until then, that site will be marked off with warning tape, and area residents are urged to stay away.

"All the residents have been warned," Zumwalt said.

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To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com, or call 477-4237.