Water Emergencies and Boil-Water Orders
Published on August 30, 2024
(This page was updated at 1:55 p.m. Aug. 30.)
Wastewater Overflows at Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility
Aug. 27 to 29, 2024
Clearwater Public Utilities crews experienced wastewater overflows at the Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility, due to excessively high flows from heavy rainfall. The first one began at about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 27 through about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 28, resulting in an estimated 3.16 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater effluent that flowed into Stevenson Creek.
The second one occurred from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Aug. 29, as the sand filters at the plant were still in recovery mode from the preceding day. An estimated 444,500 gallons bypassed the final step in the wastewater treatment process as the sand filters backed up that flowed into Stevenson Creek.
In addition, approximately 3,000 gallons of partially-treated wastewater overflowed onto the on-site storm-holding site from 8:20 to 8:56 p.m. Aug. 29. This overflow is on water-plant property and not into Stevenson Creek. Vactor trucks are being used to recover the spill and return it to the wastewater treatment process.
The city made the required notifications to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Crews posted notification signs at downstream sampling locations. Sample results are pending at this time.
Crews had to stop feeding reclaimed water into the system from the Marshall Street plant, but the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility remains online. Therefore, Clearwater reclaimed water customers continue to have reclaimed water service but may experience low water pressure today and into the weekend. (Demand should be low, however, due to recent rains).
These are all happening because the ground is saturated, and the recent heavy rains result in too much extra water flow getting to the plant too fast.
The preliminary cost of mitigation plan is unknown at this time but will include Stevenson Creek microbial sampling, vactor truck operations, costs of chemicals and polymers, and employee overtime.
The plant is located at 1605 Harbor Drive in Clearwater.
Wastewater Exceedance at Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility
Aug. 22 and 23, 2024
Clearwater Public Utilities crews experienced a reportable exceedance at the Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility, due to excessively high flows Aug. 22 that resulted from heavy rains into Aug. 23. The plant is located at 1605 Harbor Drive in Clearwater.
As of 7:24 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, an estimated 11.15 million gallons of partially-treated wastewater effluent flowed into Stevenson Creek.
As required, the city made the necessary notifications about the spill to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) via report #2024-07115, FDEP Incident #25336. Crews posted notification signs at downstream sampling locations. Sample results are pending at this time.
Due to the exceedance, crews had to stop feeding reclaimed water into the system from the Marshall Street plant, but the Northeast Water Reclamation Facility remained online. Therefore, Clearwater reclaimed water customers continue to have service but may experience low water pressure today and into the weekend. (Demand should be low, however, due to recent heavy rains).
The preliminary cost of mitigation plan is unknown at this time but will include Stevenson Creek microbial sampling, costs of chemicals and polymers, and employee overtime.
Tropical Storm Debby Sanitary Sewer Overflows
View the Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Raw Water Main Break
Highland Avenue and Belleair Road
Clearwater Public Utilities crews are on site of a raw water main break at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Belleair Road in Clearwater, which started leaking Friday, Aug. 23. This has no impact to city drinking water or reclaimed water services.
Crews have shut off nearby water lines to stop the leak, assessed needed repairs, and are working with our contractor. The city is gathering its materials to make the necessary repairs, which will include shutting down the intersection to do the work sometime during the first week of September. When an exact date is known, it will be included on this webpage. In the meantime, the intersection will continue to be closed. Please follow posted detour signs or avoid the intersection.
The duration of construction to repair it is unknown. No residential or commercial water customers are without water service.
Boil Water Notices
There are currently no precautionary boil-water orders at this time.
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