Incident caused by grease blockage in pipeline, city staff reports
Starting about 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, approximately 23,040 gallons of raw sewage began spilling from a stormwater pipe into a ditch at the intersection of Myrtle Street and Cocoanut Avenue, the City of Sarasota has reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
The site is west of Booker High School , which is located on North Orange Avenue, an aerial map shows.
City staff was alerted to “a foul‑smelling liquid flowing from a stormwater pipe” into the ditch, the report noted.
When Wastewater Collections staff members responded to the scene, the report said, they confirmed that “untreated wastewater was discharging from the storm sewer pipe. A tanker truck was deployed at a nearby storm sewer inlet to intercept the flow and prevent further discharge into the ditch,” the report added.
The affected portion of the storm drain system connects to Whitaker Bayou, the report pointed out.
While investigating the sanitary sewer system, the report continued, the staff “located a blockage” in the 8‑inch gravity main in front of the home standing at 1245 Myrtle St.
As Muller Inc. explains on its website, “A gravity sewer main is a type of sewer system that relies on gravity to transport wastewater from properties and businesses to treatment plants. This system uses a network of underground pipes installed at a slight downward angle, allowing wastewater to flow naturally toward the treatment facility without the need for mechanical pumping.”
Using a vacuum truck on the site, the city report to FDEP pointed out, the workers “cleared the blockage and determined that grease was the cause.” After the blockage was removed, the report pointed out, “the wastewater stopped entering the storm system.”
“Crews flushed the storm sewer with potable water and used the tanker to vacuum the material,” the report said. Approximately 30,000 gallons of water was removed from the ditch, in an effort to recover as much spilled sewage as possible, the report added. The affected area also was treated with lime, the report noted.
All collected material was disposed of at the City of Sarasota’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, the report said. Further, signs were posted about the spill, to warn members of the public of the situation in an effort to protect their health, the report said, and samples were collected.
“City of Sarasota Wastewater Collections personnel are coordinating with Sarasota County Stormwater staff on the ongoing investigation and will continue monitoring the spill site until the investigation is complete,” the report explained.
The incident began at 11:30 .m. on May 7 and was resolved by 4 p.m. that day, city staff told FDEP.