Sewage Spills

The biggest spill reported at least 25 million gallons released into Stevenson Creek in Clearwater. The next biggest was 20 million gallons into the Manatee River in Bradenton.

More than 8 million gallons of sewage bubbled to the surface, spilling into waterways and streets across the region.

For the second week in a row, tests show it's not safe to swim in Sarasota Bay, after more than 17 million gallons of waste spilled there, and 25 million gallons went into the Manatee River.

Repairs have finally been completed on a leak that poured more than 10,000 gallons of wastewater into an area containing sensitive wetlands in St. Petersburg. It took several days to fix the break.

Sarasota city officials say the leak came from a corroded pipe that burst Friday night.

The storm triggered six sewage spills, include three that likely dumped sewage in the Miami River, Biscayne Bay and waters off Virginia Key.

The city has said it would use $8 million in federal stimulus money to make the improvements. It will also be required to invest at least $220,000 in projects to improve local waters and estuaries.

Workers were able to collect about 10,000 gallons of the sewage and return it to the main collection line. That left about 6,000 gallons flowing into wetlands owned by the university.

Environmental advocates say Bradenton took a different approach from nearby cities that have also been sued for leaky sewage systems.

The maxing-out, bulging-at-the-seams, gridlock you feel on the highway — is happening underground, too. Infrastructure across the state isn't measuring up to Florida's growing population. And that's not only happening in Fort Lauderdale.

This week on Florida Matters we talk about what communities are doing to keep from releasing sewage and other contaminants into our local waterways. Part…

This week on Florida Matters we talk about what communities are doing to keep from releasing sewage and other contaminants into our local waterways. Part…