Title
Preventing Sanitary Sewer Overflows in GRU’s Wastewater Collection System (B)
Explanation
In response to public concern after the Mosaic sinkhole incident and the wastewater spill in Tampa Bay following Hurricane Hermine, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued an emergency rule on Sept. 26, 2016, regarding notification of pollution to the public. This new rule required GRU to report any unpermitted release of pollution to the public, even if the release was minor and no public areas were impacted. GRU reported all sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) occurring from Sept. 27 - Dec. 30, 2016 to the media and local government. The FDEP rule was invalidated by an Administrative Law Judge on Dec. 30, 2016; however, the reporting of overflows during the rule period has brought the importance of SSO prevention and wastewater collection system maintenance to the forefront. GRU has a strong collection system maintenance program and will present our efforts and path forward for SSO prevention to the City Commission and Utility Advisory Board.
This item was presented to the Utility Advisory Board at their January 18, 2017 meeting. The Board voted 7-0 to recommend that reporting threshholds be left to management's discretion and that a metric for SSO's be added to Water/Wastewater's monthly dashboard report that is submitted to the UAB.
Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Recommendation:
(1) The City Commission hear a presentation on the public notification rule and preventing sanitary sewer overflows in GRU’s wastewater collection system.
(2) GRU Staff recommendation is to use established State Watch Office threshold (62-620, F.A.C.) for reporting sanitary sewer overflows to City Commission and Utility Advisory Board. The City Commission and Utility Advisory Board will be included on written sanitary sewer overflow reports to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection when: a spill is 1,000 gallons or larger, a spill enters a waterbody, and...
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