10,000 gallons of sewage has entered Wolf Creek in Grass Valley at Joyce and Whiting streets. The Nevada County Department of Environmental Health has been notified that a sewage spill caused by a pump failure at a lift station occurred over a 24 hour period starting on October 18th, 2011, at approximately 11:30 am. The release occurred at Joyce and Whiting streets in Grass Valley with approximately 10,000 gallons of sewage entering Wolf Creek. Wesley Nicks, Director of Environmental Health at the Nevada County Environmental Health Department encourages residents to stay away from the creek.

The sewage that was discharged contains bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms that can cause illness in humans and animals. The current flow rate of Wolf Creek in that area is approximately 115 cubic feet per second adding to a high dilution rate. The cause of the release was repaired and the sewage flow was stopped by 9:00 am (Wednesday) this morning.