UPDATE: Sewer leak still flowing

Utility crews and a Hollywood-based contractor are continuing to work around the clock to repair a 20-inch forcemain sewer break at 34 S. Gulfstream Avenue, right in front of Dolphin Tower.

The leak, which was reported at 2:30 a.m. this morning, continues to flow and has created a lake on Gulfstream Avenue stretching almost from Main Street to Ringling Boulevard.

Despite the large amount of water that continues to pool, city of Sarasota Public Information Officer Jan Thornburg said “the leak looks worse than it really is.”

“In reality, the leak has been contained since 7 a.m. and it’s not impacting our customers,” Thornburg said.

A crew is working to install a bypass this evening that will allow some of the standing water to drain far enough to allow utility workers to fix the section of pipe.

A fleet of pumper trucks is working around the clock to transfer the sewer water to the city’s nearby water treatment center.

“None of this water is going into Sarasota Bay or into the stormwater system,” Thornburg said.

City staff is not sure at this time what caused the forcemain to break.

The sewer line had been tagged by the city’s Utilities Division for replacement this year and bids for the project will go out soon to prevent further problems.

The spill was contained by 7 a.m. It is estimated, however, that 40,000 gallons of sewer water may have reached the bay prior to the containment.

Thornburg said it’s the city’s goal to have the standing water gone by the morning and utility workers will then sanitize the area, which has been roped off with yellow caution tape.

The broken line is scheduled to be replaced this current fiscal year. Design plans are nearly complete and the contract bid process will begin soon. The replacement is part of an ongoing effort to add more resources to an aging infrastructure system. The City Commission recently allocated $15 million over 10 years to the comprehensive project with forcemains and lift stations receiving the highest priority.

For more information contact Utilities Director Javier Vargas at 955-2325, ext. 6210.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].