FAQ
See a compiled list of questions and answers in this FAQ.
Updates
Sept. 1, 2026
The Russian River County Sanitation District submitted its flow monitoring plan by the Sept. 1 deadline as required under the enforcement settlement with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Staff are now developing a corrective action plan, an inflow and infiltration study work plan, and a flood-susceptible manhole assessment work plan, which are due Oct. 1.
The corrective action plan will address operational procedures, infrastructure vulnerabilities, storm preparation and treatment plant resilience. The work will include evaluating inflow and infiltration, assessing manholes in flood-prone areas and updating procedures for isolation valves, manhole covers and high-flow operations.
Following submission of the October plans, work will continue on a final manhole assessment due Feb. 1, 2027, and a final inflow and infiltration study due Oct. 1, 2027.
Aug. 25, 2026
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board announced an enforcement settlement with the Russian River County Sanitation District and Sonoma Water following the January 2026 wastewater spill.
The settlement requires a series of actions to reduce the risk of future spills, including installing temporary flow monitors to help identify where stormwater is entering the sewer system, assessing maintenance access points vulnerable to flooding, improving storm preparation and operating procedures, and completing a comprehensive study of sources of excess water entering the collection system.
Read the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board announcement.
August 13, 2026
Presentation: Lower Russian River Municipal Advisory Council (River MAC) August 13, 2026
June 5, 2026
The Russian River County Sanitation District announced it had secured $47,766,537 in state funding for major wastewater system improvements. The funding comes through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and will be provided as a construction loan with full principal forgiveness.
Sonoma Water and district staff had pursued the funding for several years before the January 2026 spill. The project was not developed in response to the spill.
The funding will support the district’s Headworks, Lift Stations and Force Main Project, which will improve the treatment plant headworks where large debris and grit are removed before treatment begins, replace mechanical and electrical equipment at 11 lift stations, and replace or rehabilitate three force mains that convey pressurized wastewater through the collection system and to the treatment plant.
The improvements will address aging pipes and equipment, reduce the risk of sewer overflows and improve the reliability of the wastewater system. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.
Jan. 26, 2026
Dry weather has allowed storm-event flows in the high-flow/emergency holding basins to be gradually returned to the plant for treatment.
As the activated sludge process continues to recover, plant throughput can continue to increase.
With biological activity returning to healthy levels, activated sludge wasting has increased, enabling removal of inorganic silts introduced during the storm.
A full return to normal operations is expected within the next week.
Jan. 12, 2026 - 3 p.m.
Based on water quality testing, Sonoma County's Environmental Health Division has lifted health advisories at the remaining coastal beaches (Goat Rock, Stillwater, Black Point and Gualala) and river beaches (Johnson’s, Monte Rio and Patterson Point).
Jan. 9, 2026 - 3 p.m.
Initial estimate of the volume of the spill is 5,507,000 gallons.
Advisories to stay out of the water have been lifted at Doran, Campbell Cove and Salmon Creek beaches. Water quality test results can be found on the Sonoma County Environmental Health webpages for fresh water and ocean water .
Jan. 8, 2026 - 9 a.m.
The treatment plant stopped actively spilling at 6:50 a.m. this morning as river levels continue to recede. Staff are actively working to fully recover from the impacts of the event. The public should continue to heed posted signs along the river and at the coast to stay away from the water as water quality sampling is underway.
Untreated wastewater contains bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause illness. Contact with untreated wastewater poses a health risk, particularly for children, pets, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. The public is advised to avoid all contact with the Russian River until further notice.
If community members have questions, they can contact Ryan Pedrotti at ryan.pedrotti@scwa.ca.gov or 707-328-0890.
Jan. 7, 2026 - 5 p.m.
The spill is still active.
If you have questions about drinking water safety, contact your drinking water provider. If you are on a well and the well has been in contact with flood water, follow guidance for well decontamination .
Environmental Health specialists have begun collecting samples for water quality testing.
If you come into contact with river water downstream of the spill, best practices should be followed, such as showering, washing affected clothing and washing hands.
Jan. 7, 2026 - 10:30 a.m.
The spill is still active. As river levels start to recede, we should start to see improved conditions at the plant.
Jan. 6, 2026 - 7 p.m.
The following beaches have signage directing visitors to avoid the water.
Russian River beaches
Patterson Point
Monte Rio
Johnson’s (this beach is under water)
Coastal beaches
Doran Beach to Russian Gulch
Jan. 6, 2026 - 2:30 p.m.
Guerneville, CA — Sonoma Water is responding to a spill of untreated wastewater at the Russian River Treatment Plant after heavy overnight rainfall from an atmospheric river overwhelmed the facility and caused it to reach capacity early Tuesday.
The plant was receiving flows at a rate of approximately four million gallons per day and no additional storage capacity was available. A portion of the discharge is traveling roughly one-quarter of a mile through a forested area before reaching the mainstem of the Russian River. River levels were elevated on Tuesday morning, with flows exceeding 30,000 cubic feet per second at the Hacienda Bridge.
Affected community members were notified by an alert messaging system this morning. Sonoma Water staff have made required notifications to regulatory agencies and environmental specialists were dispatched to the site to assess conditions and potential impacts.
Community members are advised to stay away from the Russian River, which remains under storm conditions. Members of the public should follow posted signage and avoid contact with the water.
Russian River County Sanitation District asks users to reduce wastewater use to help limit ongoing impacts.
View the Press Release.
Location of Spill
18400 Neeley Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446
About the Russian River County Sanitation District
- Began Operation: 1983
- Service area: 2,700 acres
- Service recipients: 3,214 Equivalent Single-Family Dwelling
- Treatment level: Tertiary
- Design capacity: 710,000 gallons per day (average daily dry weather flow)
- Discharge: Between October 1 and May 14 recycled water is discharged into the Russian River. Between May 15 and September 30 the recycled water is used for irrigation on forested land adjacent to the treatment plant and on the Northwood Golf Course.
- Board of Directors: Sonoma Water's Board of Directors acts as the District's Board.
For more information, visit https://www.sonomawater.org/RRCSD .
Stay up to date with the latest news. View Press Releases here.