Dakota County lake access closed after 70,000-gallon sewage spill

The public access to a lake in Dakota County has been temporarily closed after a large sewage spill.

West St. Paul says Thompson Lake in West St. Paul was recently contaminated with around 70,000 gallons of sewage due to a line failure near the south end of the lake. The leak has since been stopped.

City officials said the sewage was coming out of a valve meant to let out air buildup.

Because of the spill, the county has temporarily closed the access at Thompson County Park and both the city and county are urging the public to avoid direct contact with the lake water.

Officials say cleanup efforts are underway, and the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are helping the city with the incident.

The city said it’s unlikely other nearby areas will be impacted, saying that 70,000 gallons sounds like a lot but in relation to the size of Thompson Lake, it’s not likely to have a significant impact.

Updates will be posted online but can also be received by calling 952-891-7000.