SEATTLE (August 27, 2015) — Seattle’s Seward Park swimming beach will remain closed through at least Friday afternoon, until further water testing can confirm the water is safe.
Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) and Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) made the decision to close the beach yesterday as a precaution, after problems with an electrically operated pipe valve caused some 12,000 gallons sewage to flow into the lake.
The overflow was at South Alaska Street and Lake Washington Boulevard South, more than a mile north of the Seward Park beach.
Parks and SPU made the decision to close the beach in consultation with Public Health — Seattle & King County, which has asked that two consecutive sets of clean water sampling results be obtained before the beach is re-opened. Results from the first set of tests, conducted yesterday at the beach, are due back tonight. The second set, conducted today, is due back tomorrow afternoon.
Parks and SPU have posted warning signs in the area.