{"id":398369,"date":"2026-09-13T04:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T04:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/398369\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T04:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T04:02:09","slug":"florida-city-says-power-loss-at-lift-station-spilled-800-gallons-of-untreated-wastewater","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/398369\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida city says power loss at lift station spilled 800 gallons of untreated wastewater"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Port St. Lucie wastewater lift station overflowed after a power problem, releasing about 800 gallons of untreated sewage onto the property’s driveway and into a nearby swale.<\/p>\n

Officials said the incident did not affect surface water or any publicly accessible area.<\/p>\n

Here’s what to know<\/p>\n

According to CBS12<\/a>, the city linked the spill to a loss of full electrical service at lift station WP-22, located at 170 SW Hawthorne Circle. During a weekly inspection around 11 a.m., utility workers saw sewage coming out of the wet well lid. The discharge stopped at about 12:20 p.m. after a backup generator was used to get the pumps running again.<\/p>\n

The wastewater escaped at roughly 10 gallons per minute and spread across the driveway and into an adjacent swale. In a notice sent to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, city staff said the station was not receiving full FPL line power.<\/p>\n

Of the total spill, the city estimated that about 80 gallons, or 10%, were absorbed into the soil. Crews recovered about 720 gallons from the swale, grassy area, and stone surface with a vacuum truck, then treated the site with lime.<\/p>\n

The city also said that the malfunction was not picked up by the SCADA monitoring system, so employees found it during an in-person inspection instead of through a remote alert.<\/p>\n

More background<\/p>\n

Raw sewage can carry bacteria, viruses, and excess nutrients that threaten soil quality, waterways, and public health if contamination spreads beyond the immediate site.<\/p>\n

Because the spill did not reach surface water or publicly accessible areas, the city said sampling was unnecessary.<\/p>\n

What’s being done?<\/p>\n

After workers found the overflow, they reported the power outage, brought in a backup generator, restarted the pumps, removed most of the wastewater with a vacuum truck, and applied lime to the affected area.<\/p>\n

The pollution notice said the city was carrying out internal notifications while also notifying regulatory agencies.<\/p>\n

Where can I learn more?<\/p>\n

The Port St. Lucie spill reflects challenges surrounding environmental protection and aging infrastructure. Community health and local water resources remain directly vulnerable to sewage spills and municipal sewer management decisions.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Near LaBelle, Florida, a 450,000-gallon sewage spill<\/a> left a resident’s yard reeking and raised bloom concerns.<\/p>\n

\u2022 In New Jersey, rising seas threaten sewage systems<\/a> as flooding strains aging combined sewer infrastructure.<\/p>\n

\u2022 In Vermont, residents warned the sewer project could<\/a> harm water quality for decades if planning falls short.<\/p>\n

Even when a spill stays on one property, it can still signal a larger problem. Small overflows, aging systems, and fights over upgrades can all hint at contamination risks down the line.<\/p>\n

Get TCD’s free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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