Bloedel Donovan beach will open to recreation at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, after a closure last week due to a sewage spill in Lake Whatcom.
An estimated 25,000 to 50,000 gallons of sewage spilled into the lake on Wednesday, Sept. 11, after contractors hit an underground sewage pipe during construction on the Electric Avenue bridge. This week, water quality testing shows that the bacteria levels in the lake have now returned to safe levels, according to a news release from the City of Bellingham.
The rest of Bloedel Donovan Park has also reopened, aside from the parts of the park impacted by ongoing Bloedel Donovan Park Community Building renovations and stormwater improvements.
The sewage spill continues to have no impact on the city’s drinking water, as the water treatment plant was a mile upstream from the spill, according to the city.
This article was updated at 9:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 18 to add information about ongoing construction at Bloedel Donovan Park.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
