"If you've got it--flaunt it!"

Marin County is the wealthiest county, by far, in the state of California. Its residents are strongly Republican, and by no coincidence, have a high percentage of residents who derive their income from something other than wages (read "work").

But, not content to sit back smugly and enjoy their wealth, they occasionally feel the need to "rub our noses" in it. You know--show the rest of us what they're made of. Sometimes in a very conspicuous way.

From NBC11.com (2/1/08)

MARTINEZ, Calif. -- The California Department of Fish and Game has confirmed to NBC11 that a 2.7 million gallon sewage spill has been stopped from leaking further.

Officials with the department said the clean-up operation had been finished by 10:30 a.m. This was after millions of gallons had already flowed into the bay.

State Office Of Emergency Services announced Friday that the partially-treated sewage had spilled along the Marin County shoreline.Marin County officials say the spill occurred when rainwater overwhelmed the South Marin Sanitation District's water treatment plant and an emergency alarm failed to alert operators. The facility is located at 450 Sycamore Avenue in Mill Valley.

The State Office of Emergency Services said it began alerting Bay Area cities and counties Friday morning.Chopper11 flew over Richardson Bay and showed a slick of what appeared to be oil in the water.The spill happened Thursday night between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. -- and was reported shortly after 11 p.m.Both the California State Water Resources Control Board and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board have been actively involved in this incident and are monitoring water quality in the Bay, a statement from the office said.

Sanitation officials said none of the spill contained chlorine used to treat sewage and the communities of Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon and Belvedere were notified of the spill.

googlemaps

There have been no reports of wildlife affected by the spill, according to Marin County sheriff's Lt. Doug Pittman.The public is being advised not to come in contact with the water, Pittman said.Officials have posted signs warning of possible contamination at beaches and waterfronts along Richardson Bay.The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board reported that commercial fishing was unaffected by the spill and that it is safe to swim in Contra Costa County waters.The spill has not affected the Golden Gate Ferry system, spokeswoman Mary Currie said.

Environmental groups are outraged. A spokesman is quoted as saying "This is over the top even for them. It's the most outrageous display of effluence I've ever seen!".