Jefferson County Public Health has issued a “no contact” health advisory for the waters of Port Ludlow Bay after a sewage spill was discovered Tuesday.

Health officials are advising the public to avoid contact with the water including swimming, boating, and fishing until further notice. 

Warning signs have been posted at public access points.

Olympic Water & Sewer reported a bypass of sewage at its wastewater treatment facility that led to a sewage overflow into Port Ludlow Bay during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Jan. 5.

The company's treatment plant is at located at 8481 Oak Bay Road, and it's been estimated that 50,000 to 75,000 gallons of a mix of sewage and stormwater entered the bay.

The flow of sewage has been diverted and repairs are being made, according to the county health department.

Officials with Olympic Water & Sewer said the overflow was discovered at 7 a.m. Tuesday and the spill happened overnight.

The sewage bypass occurred after the wastewater plant was hit with extremely high flows due to an excessive amount of rain in a short period of time, according to Olympic Water & Sewer. 

Olympic Water & Sewer is the water utility company that provides residential and commercial services within the Port Ludlow Master Planned Resort community, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Port Ludlow Associates.

Health officials warn that contact with fecal-contaminated waters can result in gastroenteritis, skin rashes, upper respiratory infections, and other illnesses. 

The "no contact" advisory does not include Mats Mats Bay.