Sewage Dumped into Fort Lauderdale's Stormwater System, Again

(Fort Lauderdale, FL) -- Fort Lauderdale residents are dealing with another sewage spill, the second this year.

A subcontractor working on the City’s Redundant Effluent Force Main Project unintentionally drilled through a 54” sewer line. City officials say cleanup and repair efforts are hampered by pressurized liquid waste backflowing from the injection wells into the damaged pipe.

The pipe cannot be repaired until pressure is reduced and sewage stops flowing from the damaged section.

The treated effluent from the George T. Lohmeyer (GTL) plant is still being temporarily redirected into the Intracoastal Waterway through the emergency outfall.

A precautionary waterway advisory remains in effect, and water samples are being tested daily for safety.

Also, large pump trucks are being used to remove water from SE 20th Street, with additional control measures being taken to prevent water from impacting residential areas near SE 10th Ave.

The subcontractor which did not permission to drill has accepted full responsibility for all costs and expenses related to this incident.

Back in February, the city issued a no-swim advisory after a contractor dumped 3,000 gallons of raw sewage into a stormwater manhole.