Approximately 12,500 gallons of sewage spilled into Martinez storm drains after an underground pipe near a massive oil refinery ruptured, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Signage in the area warned residents not to use the surface water.
Officials determined the leak was caused by the deterioration of a sewage line just south of the PBF Oil Refinery, formerly known as the Shell refinery.
"It took time to identify which pipe was involved," said Lilia Corona, district manager of the Mount View Sanitary District, told the paper, adding that dyes were used to find the leak.
KQED reported that a PBF security guard discovered the leak on Monday while doing rounds.
Crews have stopped the leak and are working to clean up and recover as much of the sewage as they can. Corona told the paper that repairs on the broken pipe, which is located nine feet below Pacheco Blvd., should be completed by Thursday night.
The 860 acre refinery produces 157,000 barrels of oil per day, according to the company’s website.
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