Leak in private irrigation pipeline blamed for incident
On Oct. 12, the City of Venice notified the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) that an estimated 15,710 gallons of reclaimed water spilled in a neighborhood as a result of a leak in a 3-inch, primary, private irrigation pipeline.
City Utilities Department staff calculated the amount from the time the leak appeared to have begun — approximately 1 a.m. on Oct. 7 — until the leak stopped at 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 8, staff reported to FDEP.
The city’s water meter monitoring system identified the leak in the reclaimed water system at 9 a.m. on Oct. 8, the report explained. “Staff responded immediately to find and stop the spill by closing an upstream City valve,” it added.
The spill occurred behind the home standing at 1117 Southlake Court in Venice, the staff noted. That residence is part of the Lakeside Woods South subdivision, the Sarasota County Property Appraiser’s Office records show. The home is just west of Pinebrook Park, The Sarasota News Leader observed on an aerial map.
The Venice Utilities Department report to FDEP also explained, “The reclaimed water entered the stormwater system via the gutter on Pine Lake Drive and flowed to the nearby stormwater lake serving Pinebrook South.” Workers used absorbent “PIGS” spill kits and mulch bags to prevent additional reclaimed water from entering the stormwater system, the report added.
“A vacuum truck was used to recover as much of the spill as possible,” the report continued. “Dirt, sand and other debris were cleaned up and disposed of. Approximately 300 gallons of combined reclaimed water and stormwater were recovered with the vacuum truck and PIGs,” it noted.
“Cleanup has been completed,” the report said. “The private irrigation system will remain off until repairs are completed,” it added.
Sampling of the water system to ensure public safety was not required, the report pointed out.
Reclaimed water is highly treated sewage that often is used for irrigation, public utilities department staff members have explained over the years.