A broken sewer pipe in Clearlake led city officials to declare a local emergency on Monday after raw sewage flowed into Burns Valley Creek and Clear Lake, according to city and county news releases.
The spill began Sunday morning before 8 a.m. on Robin Lane in the Burns Valley area.
Lake County Sanitation District manages the wastewater system, which is operated by Lake County Special Districts. Officials said the spill could not be shut off right away because several valves were not working.
Multiple attempts to reach agencies across the city and county were unsuccessful as of Tuesday afternoon.
Sewage flowed through the storm drainage system into Burns Valley Creek and then into Clear Lake. Officials said at least 58 properties were affected, with most relying on private wells.
An Allstarz Pumping worker fro Sonoma County gauges if he can get a pumping truck in the backyard of a property to vacuum up a large pond of sewage, on Robin Lane in Clearlake, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in the Burns Valley area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) An Allstarz Pumping worker fro Sonoma County, vacuums up sewage water on Robin Lane in Clearlake, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in the Burns Valley area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) An Allstarz Pumping worker fro Sonoma County, vacuums up sewage water on Robin Lane in Clearlake, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in the Burns Valley area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) Joe Hulbert displays a photograph of sewage water, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, cascading down Robin Lane, late Sunday in Clearlake, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) Mike Holland documents the amount of mud and sewage which rushed in to a neighbors yard on Ro9ben Lane in the Burns Valley neighborhood of Clearlake on Robin Lane, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) County of Lake employees repair a sewer line, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, which burst Sunday on Robin Lane in Clearlake. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) A County of Lake employee spreads agriculture lime on Robin Lane in Clearlake to help dry out the road which was submerged in sewage, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) Show Caption1 of 7An Allstarz Pumping worker fro Sonoma County gauges if he can get a pumping truck in the backyard of a property to vacuum up a large pond of sewage, on Robin Lane in Clearlake, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in the Burns Valley area. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat) ExpandAlthough the city does not own the sewer system, the City of Clearlake declared a local emergency to respond to impacts on residents and public health.
Anthony Arton, health services director for Lake County, said the county’s public health officer, Dr. Robert Bernstein, is also declaring a public health emergency related to the incident.
Arton said residents should avoid contact with sewage and follow a “do not use” notice for private wells. People exposed to the spill could be at risk of gastrointestinal illness, including E. coli.
“Watch for signs and symptoms of GI issues, cramps, diarrhea, call your doctor first for guidance, and work with your primary care physician,” said Arton in a phone call on Tuesday. “And if things seem to be really bad — dehydration, things like that — then probably go to an urgent care center.”
Arton said teams from Lake County’s Department of Health Services have been on site since Sunday and have begun testing private wells, which could take several months to monitor.
“Our primary responsibility right now is on those private wells for those residents that could be impacted,” he said. He added that environmental health teams have also been out testing Burns Valley Creek since Sunday.
Residents described significant disruption and frustration. Cassandra Hulbert, who lives on Robin Lane, said she woke Sunday morning to “a river going down our street” and that the sewage flowed for nearly 48 hours.
Hulbert also said she believed the pipe burst as a result of an out-of-date repair patch which had been installed about 20 years ago finally failing.
“I’m not going to say it’s a surprise, but the impact of what has happened, everyone is still kind of stunned,” said Hulbert on Tuesday. “What are we even supposed to do? Right now, I’m thinking about, how do I wash clothes? But I’m also thinking about, what is this going to do to the property value? Are wells going to be usable?”
Hulbert said the spill affected hundreds of people and animals in the area.
“It’s an unsafe place, a lot of the people that live out here are elderly,” she said. “Both of my children are disabled, and I have an autoimmune disorder,” she said, describing the difficulty of managing safety in her household.
Hulbert said residents have received limited support.
“(County of Lake officials) gave our family of seven a gallon of water 30 hours after this occurred. And that’s not for pets,” she said. She said she has been staying in a hotel provided by Special Districts until Thursday but worries about long-term water access.
The leak reportedly stopped around 10 p.m. Monday, and repairs were underway. Cleanup and water testing are expected to continue for several weeks. Arton said the response is being led by Lake County Special Districts, with environmental health assisting.
County officials urged residents in the affected area to use bottled water and avoid private wells until further notice. Water from public systems remains safe to use. People were advised to stay out of Burns Valley Creek and nearby areas between Robin Lane and Pond Street, and Pamela Drive and Old Highway 53.
Residents with questions were directed to call Lake County Special Districts at 707-263-0119.
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