This story was updated Oct. 28:
Wastewater treatment plants were offline, manholes overflowed and tons of waste contaminated waterways throughout the region.
Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a non-profit conservation group, said these spills are no longer resulting from so-called 100-year rain events, and sewage treatment plants need to be upgraded - now.
"We need to reinvest in our infrastructure, or else every time we have these tropical events, we're going to be harming our watershed, which really hurts our economy. So we're playing with fire," he said.
Tramble said they haven't heard any reports of fish kills or strong smells in the bay - yet - but they are sending a team into Tampa Bay to look for any effects of the spills.
"We cannot continue to let these happen because there comes a time where we will have to realize as a community that these storms are becoming more frequent," he said. "With these storms, we continue to have this significant rainfall. So it's no longer an excuse that these are, you know, 100-year events. It's happening a lot."
Tramble said we need to face the problem and invest more money in keeping sewage treatment plants from becoming overwhelmed every time we have a major storm.
"I do think that there has been some focus to invest in the infrastructure, but it's not enough," he said, "and I think it's important for folks that engage with the water, which is everybody here that lives in the Tampa Bay region, whether directly or indirectly, continue to speak up so that the can doesn't get kicked down the road."
"Because we can't keep having these events, and we can't keep blaming the rarity of the event," he said. "At some point, that argument needs to go away, and we need to face the problems and fix this so that we can protect our our water."
The reported spills include few from the city of St. Petersburg, which shut down two of its three sewage treatment plants before Milton struck.
"The city made the very difficult decision to take two sewage plants offline, the Northeast one and the Southwest one, and this was because the conditions, the wind conditions, had gotten so bad that we were up against a deadline to try to rescue the plant workers safely, get them safely out of the plant, and also to prevent any damage to the plant," said St. Petersburg spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez.
During Hurricane Helene, Pinellas County reported more than 800,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed from manhole covers. Half of that was in St. Petersburg.
Here's a partial list of some of the sewage spills associated with Hurricane Milton.
In Clearwater, the Marshall Street water reclamation facility was inundated with extra flow and debris from Hurricane Milton. Beginning around 10:15pm on Oct. 15 , an estimated 25,424,026 gallons of partially treated wastewater was discharged into the tidal segment of Stevenson Creek until 4:15pm on Oct. 18. Without preliminary screening, rags and other materials flowed into the treatment process. We set up a bypass to pump around bar screens in order to enter the area and free them from the heavy debris. During this time there was no screening, so materials entered the other process stages, eventually causing downstream issues such as clogging up the return activated sludge pumps and associated secondary clarifier sludge collection mechanism(s). A clog in this part of the treatment system caused the sludge blanket in clarifier #3 to become upset and rise. Solids eventually escaped over the clarifier weirs, blinding the sand filters. This caused an estimated 4,850,672 gallons of partially treated wastewater to discharge again, from 6:28 p.m. on Oct. 23 to 6:56 a.m. on Oct. 24.
In Bradenton, on Oct. 9, due to high flow, the city’s water reclamation facility began a partial filter bypass to the Manatee River. They are unable to estimate the actual volume bypassed as there is no meter at the channel. The estimated volume of 20 million gallons of partially treated wastewater was bypassed from Oct. 9 to Oct. 11. The bypass remained open, but no flow went through.
In Bradenton, on Oct. 10, the water reclamation facility ran out of sodium-bisulfate, the chemical used to dechlorinate the treated effluent prior to discharge. The total estimated volume of partially treated water that went to the Manatee River is 18 million gallons.
In Tampa, on Oct. 10, City of Tampa Wastewater Department discovered a wastewater overflow near 9901 18th St., due to power failure and flooding of the 18th Street pumping station, that leads to the Howard F. Curren treatment plant at Port Tampa Bay on Hillsborough Bay. The volume of overflow was estimated at about 5 million gallons. The overflow discharged from manholes and into a pond south of the manhole. A bypass pumping system was installed to stop the overflow. A large volume of the overflow contained within the pond drained back into the collection system through operation of the bypass pumping system.
In Tampa, on Oct. 9, the primary sedimentation tanks at the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant overflowed due to heavy rains associated with Hurricane Milton. Approximately 2.93 million gallons of partially treated wastewater flowed out of the tanks and onto the treatment plant property. A portion of this volume flowed into the stormwater system on Maritime Boulevard and into Hillsborough Bay.
In Lakeland, on Oct. 9, high flow from Hurricane Milton overburdened the effluent line at the Glendale Water Reclamation Facility. The partially treated wastewater flowed into the stormwater system into Lake Somerset. The total amount of the overflow is estimated at 2 million gallons.
In Seminole, lift station power outages and inundation caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. 2,016,000 gallons overflowed. Flowed to surrounding grass area and impacted Lake Seminole.
In Palm Harbor on Oct. 11, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole that was going to the William E. Dunn water reclamation facility. Approximately 1.7 million gallons were spilled and 0 gallons recovered. Overflow reached a canal which leads to Lake Tarpon.
In Seminole, from Oct. 11-13, a lift station power outage and inundation have caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Overflow reached a storm drain which leads to Lake Seminole. 1,584,000 gallons spilled. Area was washed down and deodorized.
In Largo, from Oct. 10-17, lift station power outages and inundation caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. 1,512,000 gallons overflowed. Impacted Taylor Lake. Water Quality samples met surface water quality criteria.
In Palm Harbor on Oct. 11, a power outage at a lift station caused a back up in the gravity system causing multiple manholes to overflow. Approximately 1,080,000 gallons overflowed and 0 gallons were recovered. The overflow went into a retention area. No waters of the state were impacted.
In Largo, from Oct 10-17, lift station power outages and inundation caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. 1,008,000 gallons overflowed to storm drains and to Lake Seminole.
In Seminole, on Oct. 10, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from multiple cleanouts at the South Cross Bayou water reclamation facility. Updated discharge - 864,000 gallons were spilled through Oct. 16. Overflow reached a storm drain, which leads to The Narrows.
In St. Petersburg from Oct. 10-16, lift station power outages and inundation caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. 648,000 gallons overflowed. Flowed to retention area.
In Valrico, on Oct. 10, 619,792 gallons of partially treated effluent was released at the Valrico Advance Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 1167 North Dover Road. The release was contained onsite. There was no reported impact to residences, businesses, or the environment.
In Largo on Oct. 11, a lift station power outage caused the system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Overflow reached a storm drain which leads to McKay Creek. Updated discharge - 576,000 gallons.
In Seminole, from Oct. 11-17, lift station power outages and inundation caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. 504,000 gallons overflowed to a grassy area.
In Palm Harbor on Oct. 12, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from multiple manholes. Approximately 432,000 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons recovered. Overflow remained in a retention area and no waters of the state were impacted.
In Palm Harbor, on Oct. 10, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Updated discharge - 360,000 gallons were spilled through Oct. 15. Overflow reached a storm drain, which leads to the Canal to Klosterman Bayou.
In Clearwater, a power outage at the Top of the World wastewater treatment plant caused 78,000 gallons of untreated wastewater and 237,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater spilled. An unnamed waterway was impacted.
In Seminole on Oct. 14, due to widespread power outages and heavy rains, the sanitary sewer system backed up and overflowed from a manhole. Approximately 400,320 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons were recovered. The overflow reached Lake Seminole.
In Palm Harbor on Oct. 12, a power outage at a lift station caused the gravity system to back up and overflow from multiple manholes. Approximately 288,000 gallons discharged and 0 gallons were recovered. The spill was contained in a retention pond. No waters of the state were impacted.
In St. Petersburg from Oct. 12-15, lift station power outages and inundation have caused the system to backup and overflow from manholes. Overflow reached a storm drain which leads to Long Bayou. Details TBD. 237,600 gallons overflowed.
In Brandon, on Oct. 9, the filters started overflowing at the Falkenburg Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 102 N. Falkenburg Road. This event released approximately 200,000 gallons of partially treated effluent onto the ground and into adjacent stormwater ponds. There was no reported impact to residences, businesses, or the environment.
In Seminole, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole at the South Cross Bayou water reclamation facility. Approximately 144,000 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons recovered. Overflow reached a storm drain which leads to Sawgrass Lake.
In Venice on Oct. 11, a power failure at the Venice Garden water reclamation facility caused a discharge of 126,000 gallons. There were 0 gallons recovered, and no waterways were reported impacted.
In Seminole, on Oct. 11, a sanitary sewer overflow due to Hurricane Milton. Lift station power outage at the South Cross Bayou water reclamation facility caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Approximately 102,000 gallons were spilled and 6,700 gallons recovered. Overflow reached a storm drain that leads to Boca Ciega Bay.
In Bradenton, on Oct. 9, Manatee County Southwest Water Reclamation Facility staff became aware of the plant drain station discharging partially treated wastewater onto the plant grounds located at 5101 65th Street West in Bradenton. Due to flooding on the plant site and the SSO occurring during Hurricane Milton, it is impossible to estimate how much of the discharge left the site but the ultimate destination is assumed to be Sarasota Bay and Palma Sola Bay. The initial estimated volume is greater than 100,000 gallons, but a final volume will be provided if it can be calculated.
In Seminole, on Oct. 11, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to back up at the South Cross Bayou water reclamation facility and overflow from a manhole. Approximately 72,000 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons recovered. Overflow made its way into a retention pond. No waters of the state were impacted.
In Largo, from Oct. 12-15, a lift station power outages and inundation have caused the system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Overflow reached a storm drain which leads to a retention pond. Details still TBD. 51,840 gallons spilled.
In Clearwater, a sewer stoppage and back up due at the Marshall Street water reclamation facility caused excessive inflow from Hurricane Milton. About 46,000 gallons were spilled, with 0 gallons recovered. Much of it spilled into Stevenson Creek.
In Clearwater, on Oct. 11, a manhole overflowed due to excessive inflow from Hurricane Milton. About 31,500 gallons of untreated wastewater into Allen Creek, which eventually connects to Tampa Bay. About 1,500 gallons were recovered.
In Seminole, on Oct. 10, a lift station power outage caused the sanitary system to backup and overflow from a manhole. Approximately 30,000 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons recovered. Overflow reached Lake Seminole.
In Plant City on Oct. 10, a manhole overflowed at North Franklin Street and Sunset Road. The overflow was caused by flooding from Hurricane Milton causing sewer lines to back up and overflow. Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 gallons overflowed into the street and surrounding area. The wastewater did not come into contact with any known storm drain or water body and was washed away from the area by the flooding from the hurricane.
In Plant City on Oct. 10, a manhole at North Turkey Creek Road and Country Hills Boulevard overflowed after sewer lines backed up. From 25,000 to 30,000 gallons overflowed into the street and surrounding area. It did not come into contact with any known storm drain or water body and was washed away from the area by the flooding from the hurricane.
In Tampa, on Oct. 9, the City of Tampa Wastewater Department became aware of a wastewater overflow near 7301 Egypt Lake Dr. It resulted in overflow in the street and entered into nearby stormwater inlets. The inlets connect to a storm water system that discharges into Egypt Lake. Estimated discharge was 29,370 gallons.
In Dunedin, on Oct. 10, a manhole overflowed. More than 20,000 gallons of untreated sewage escaped from the city’s wastewater treatment plant. About 10,400 gallons were recovered. Much of the rest flowed into Jerry Branch, which flows into Jerry Lake.
In Indian Rocks Beach on Oct. 12, due to widespread power outages and heavy rains, the sanitary sewer system backed up and overflowed from multiple manholes. Approximately 21,600 gallons were spilled and 0 gallons were recovered. The overflow made its way to Clearwater Harbor.
In St. Petersburg, on Oct. 8, sewage was found coming out of a manhole on the 2400 block of 41st Street South. About 15,000 gallons spilled, with 8,000 gallons recovered. Much of it flowed into Clam Bayou.
In Tampa, on Oct. 13, a wastewater overflow occurred near 317 W. North St. due to power failure at the Epps Park pumping station. The volume of overflow was estimated at approximately 5,000 gallons. The overflow discharged from a manhole and into a storm inlet that discharges to the Hillsborough River.
In Tarpon Springs, a manhole overflowed at the intersection of Milton and Safford Avenues, draining into the retention pond on the west side of the road. About 4,500 gallons spilled, with 660 gallons recovered. Some of it spilled into the Anclote River.
