City of Sarasota Utilities Department crews responded Thursday to a sewage leak near Lift Station 7 along the Hudson Bayou.

A faulty air release valve triggered the leak, which crews repaired in less than two hours. City officials estimate that about 12,000 gallons spilled into the Hudson Bayou, according to a press release from the city. Another 18,000 gallons were captured via pumper trucks and transported to the wastewater treatment plant.

The Utilities Department received a call at 11:59 a.m. notifying staff about the leak. It was repaired by 1:45 p.m.

The spill occurred while Sarasota officials have been working to get a long-delayed and troubled $12.5 million lift station construction project back on track.

As part of that project, a new lift station, called Lift Station 87, is being built in Luke Wood Park at the southeastern corner of U.S. 41 and Osprey Avenue to replace Lift Station 7 at 935 Pomelo Ave., near Hudson Bayou.

The station on Pomelo is being replaced because it is aging, lacks full on-site backup power, is on land not owned by the city and has had a history of malfunctions and sewer spills — including a 570,000-gallon spill seven years ago into Hudson Bayou.

A quick response reduced the impact of the spill, City Manager Tom Barwin said in a press release Thursday.

“Every available crew member responded immediately,” Barwin said.

Notices have been placed near Lift Station 7 and the Hudson Bayou advising the public about the spill.

Contact Roger Drouin at rdrouin@yourobserver.com.
 

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