Florida Hurricanes: "Sewage Crisis Threatens County" waterways/beaches

[KoKo]

Sewage crisis threatens county

By J. Christopher Hain and Chuck McGinness

Palm Beach Post Staff Writers

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Without power for hundreds of sewer pumps, raw sewage is bubbling from the ground throughout Palm Beach County, flowing into canals and lakes and posing serious health risks.

Water Utilities Director Gary Dernlan said the county has emergency power at its two sewage treatment plants. But about 65 percent of the 750 pumps that push raw sewage from homes to the plants remained without power Wednesday, he said. And pipes holding the sewage are full and overflowing.

Municipalities have about another 750 pumps, many of them also without power, Dernlan said.

(snip)

Without working pumps, sewage will overflow at pump stations or through manhole covers, said Dernlan, the county water utilities director. In some cases, it can back up into toilets, sinks and tubs.

About 50 of the county's pumps are powered by emergency generators, he said. The county is trying to buy about 200 generators from Miami-Dade County. But that would still leave hundreds of pumps without power.

"Until that's restored, these overflows will continue," Dernlan said.

The county is also bringing in truckloads of powdered chlorine and agricultural lime to treat overflows and polluted waterways.

The problem is so widespread, county health department spokesman Tim O'Connor said, that people should avoid all standing water because sewage may have seeped into it. The department advises against swimming at beaches because sewage in streams will eventually flow to the Intracoastal Waterway and out to sea, he said.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/local_news/epaper/2004/09/09/s1c_SEWAGE_0909.html

[blindpig]

1. what a brilliant setup

and what a gift to the real estate pigs. Land is too low for gravity feed, unsuitable for septic, no problemo! One dubious techno fix and kazat!, serious real estate. Heads should roll, though I doubt they will.
I find the electric pump on my well problematical and dream one day of going solar with it. No way would I consider that madness.

[kestrel91316]

2. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.............

I figure with all the downed trees, they can run them through the chipper-shredder to make wood shavings and everybody can just set up sawdust bucket toilets to use until the sewers systems are functional again. Heaven knows with Ivan the Terrible on the way they are going to need to start THINKING already.

Hey Florida: read THE HUMANURE HANDBOOK.