November 17, 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager
Jefferson County Public Health
360-385-9444 ext. 301

Port Townsend – Water samples taken by Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) in Port Townsend Bay near Monroe Street on Tuesday, November 17, showed elevated levels of Enterococcus bacteria. Enterococcus is an indicator of fecal matter associated with sewage. The average of three samples was 156 entero per 100 milliliters of water, which exceeds the Washington State Beach program criteria of 104. A sewage overflow due to a water main break on Monroe Street on Monday evening is the suspected source of the elevated bacteria. JCPH is continuing the No Water Contact Advisory for the shoreline from Pope Marine Park to Point Hudson, (see our previous press release from November 17). Additional water samples have been taken on November 19, and the advisory will continue until bacteria levels return to normal. The City of Port Townsend stopped the sewage overflow Monday evening. The city continues to do repairs to the water main and has posted information at https://cityofpt.us/publicworks/page/water-main-break-monroe-and-water. 

Photo caption: shoreline in the No Water Contact Advisory area captured by Mike Dawson 

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Jefferson County Public Health
Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Community