Water Line Breaks and Emergencies

Published on April 02, 2025

Water or Wastewater Breaks or Emergencies

• At approximately midnight on March 26, an unanticipated process upset occurred at the East Wastewater Treatment Facility.  During routine maintenance, when one clarifier unit  (a settling tank designed to remove solid matter from water) was temporarily offline for cleaning, a second unit became overloaded. This resulted in solids clogging the filters resulting in reduction in the effluent's clarity (or turbidity).
   
  It is estimated that approximately 1.4 million gallons of this effluent, exhibiting elevated turbidity, was discharged via the designated outfall into Old Tampa Bay.  The clarifier unit that had been undergoing maintenance was promptly returned to operational status, and the upset ended early Thursday morning. Subsequently, samples of the water were collected for analysis, and relevant regulatory agencies have been formally notified. 
  
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• On March 9, 2025, a sanitary sewer overflow occurred due to construction work by a contractor at Lift Station No. 16, located at 211 Pierce St. The failure of both the primary and secondary bypass pumps caused wastewater to overflow from a manhole east of the building at 100 Pierce St. A replacement primary pump was brought in, stopping the overflow by 12:40 a.m. on March 10. A secondary pump arrived later to help prevent further overflow.

  The spill reached Clearwater Harbor North, and water samples have been collected. Approximately 55,000 gallons of untreated wastewater were discharged, with 7,400 gallons recovered using vactor trucks. Signs have been posted, and regulatory agencies have been notified, including the State Watch Office (No. 2025-2171), the Department of Environmental Protection (Incident No. 28812), and the Public Notice of Pollution.

  *Update: Water quality criteria was met on March 14, and no further sampling is necessary.*

  

  

Boil-Water Orders

• There are currently no active precautionary boil-water orders in the city of Clearwater.

Florida Health Department Info About Boil-Water Orders

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