Wastewater Overflows from Penngrove Manhole

Hundreds of gallons of wastewater overflowed from a manhole in Penngrove at about 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Sonoma County Water Agency officials said.

The heavy rains of the past few days caused approximately 900 gallons of wastewater to spill near the Penngrove lift station, according to the Ann DuBay of the agency.

The lift station is owned by the Penngrove Sanitation Zone, which is operated by the Sonoma County Water Agency. The collected sewage from the Penngrove Sanitation Zone is routed through their lift station to the City of Petaluma's system for treatment.

The spill took place on the collection side, at one of two manholes in the pipe near the Eli Road lift station.

"In that area it does happen occasionally," said DuBay. "There's really nothing we can do about it, we just have to wait until the peak of the rainfall passes through, which it has."

There is little housing in the area, and no expected health concern. The wastewater flowed into nearby Lichau Creek, where a biologist from the water agency was dispatched to check for any negative effects to fish and wildlife.

None were found, water agency officials said.

Heavy rainfall led to swollen creeks and high flows which diluted the wastewater. Lichau Creek is a tributary of the Petaluma River, which is also experiencing high water levels due to storm runoff.

By Bay City News Service contributed to this report.