Malfunction Leads to 6,000+ Gallon Sewage Spill & Environmental Contamination in Clearwater

Cover photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo by Iain Cuthbertson | Flickr

According to a report released by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on December 10, 2024, a system malfunction caused a significant backflow of sewage in Clearwater on Monday morning.

The incident occurred on December 9, 2024, at 8:09 am during routine generator testing when the filter feed station lost communication due to a fault with the system's water level indicator. This caused all filter feed pumps to shut down, resulting in the flow backing up into the system and overflowing into the parking lot of the Waste Water Treatment Plant located at 1605 Harbor Dr in Clearwater.

In total, 6,250 gallons of partially-treated waste water was flushed from the system as a result of the malfunction — approximately 500 of which reached nearby surface water discharge points, posing a risk of environmental contamination.

Upon identifying the spill, immediate clean-up efforts were initiated. Clean-up actions included the spreading of Lime to neutralize any harmful contaminants in the waste water and to attempt to minimize the impact on the surrounding environment, followed by a thorough washing-down of of the affected area to remove any remaining waste water to prevent further spread of contaminants.

By the time of DEP reporting of the incident, clean-up efforts were considered complete, with no visible waste or residual contaminants located in the affected area. As of publication, the full impact of the sewage spill on the surrounding environment and nearby Stevenson Creek is yet to be determined.

Appropriate authorities were immediately notified in accordance with environmental protocols. Agencies involved in the notification process include local environmental protection authorities, water management agencies, and relevant municipal authorities. These agencies were briefed on the nature of the incident, the volume of wastewater involved, and about measures taken to mitigate the malfunction's impact.

This incident highlights the importance of regular equipment checks and maintenance to prevent communication failures and system malfunctions. While the immediate clean-up efforts appear effective in containing the spill, the release of 500 gallons of partially treated wastewater into nearby surface water raises concerns regarding potential environmental risks.

The global scientific community is increasingly recognizing the profound impact that wastewater pollution has on aquatic ecosystems.

As reported by The Nature Conservancy, studies have linked wastewater pollution to death of sea-grass, a critical food source for the beloved and endangered Florida manatee, bottle-nosed dolphins, sea urchins, conchs, and sea turtles. Wastewater pollution is also responsible for the development of harmful algal-bloom events and the weakening of coral reef habitats that can destabilize entire ecosystems.

Continuous monitoring of the situation will be necessary to assess the long-term impact and ensure that such situations do not reoccur in the future. The incident follows a contractor error that resulted in the backflow of 9,500 gallons of untreated wastewater in Sanibel.
Additional sewage pollution alerts can be viewed on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's website.

Article by Rachael Volpe