LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Officials reported progress on Thursday in the continued water testing and tank placement in the neighborhoods impacted by a massive sewage spill that occurred earlier this month.
The city of Clearlake and the Lake County Office of Emergency Services, or Lake County OES, entered into unified command on Monday in managing the response to the Robin Lane sewer spill, which began on Jan. 11.
That management includes coordinating testing, resources and public updates as the recovery efforts continue, officials reported.
The spill, the result of a 16-inch force main rupture, lasted more than 38 hours and resulted in an estimated 2.9 million gallons of sewage being released, with impacts extending over a roughly 300-acre area.
Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Bernstein urged residents of the spill area who rely on well water to temporarily relocate until their wells have been deemed safe following testing.
The Lake County Sanitation District, overseen by Lake County Special Districts, operates the sewer system that failed.
Initially, Special Districts was leading the response, but this week the management transitioned to the city and OES.
Officials told community members at a Wednesday night town hall that their goal is to get people back to normal as soon as possible.
The city said response efforts have moved from emergency containment to coordinated recovery and monitoring, with assessment and testing teams working across the six zones into which the spill area has been split.
“Sewer infrastructure has been stabilized, environmental assessments have been completed, and private well testing is ongoing across all zones, with each zone tested at least once and continued follow-up sampling underway,” the city reported.
The response has included providing potable water tanks, water deliveries, mobile laundry and hygiene services, and temporary shelter support to residents and animals, according to the Thursday report.
With the change in leadership, more information has become available this week, including an updated number of impacted properties — from the initial estimate of 58 to 200.
On Thursday, the city of Clearlake reported that the unified command’s teams had tested another 151 sites, bringing the total of water samples completed to 310.
To date, the total number of water tanks installed has risen to 19. Of those, 12 were installed by the incident team and the seven others were installed by a program overseen by Lake County Social Services.
The city of Clearlake’s website has a webpage dedicated to the incident.
Additional information requests about the incident can be directed to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson, who also is acting as the incident’s public information officer, at 707-994-8201, Extension 106, or
Lake County Special Districts can be reached at 707-263-0119.
Email Elizabeth Larson at