On March 4, 2020 Jaffer Wells Drilling, a sub-contractor for Hy-Power, struck a 42-inch sanitary sewer main near the intersection of 17 Street and Lincoln Road. This event caused increased pressure throughout the sanitary system and on March 5, 2020 caused a sewer force main break at the parking lot at 72 Street and Collins Avenue. Following the break, sewage recovery and cleaning efforts began immediately and continued for approximately one week after the spill. Water quality testing began on March 6, 2020 to identify impacts to the surrounding surface waters.
Typically, following a sanitary sewer break, surrounding surface waters will continue to have high bacteria counts for a couple of days following the incident. However, high bacteria counts continued many days following the sewage break repair and further analysis of historical data indicate that this waterway has chronically elevated bacteria levels beyond those caused by the sewer break.
At the end of March 2020, due to COVID-19, sampling was suspended and an on-going “No Contact Advisory” was issued. Signage was posted at the kayak launch, notices were issued via the city’s Neighborhood Affairs Division team, and information was posted on the city’s website (http://www.mbrisingabove.com/climate-adaptation/water-quality-2/).
On May 7, 2020, water quality testing in the canal and investigations resumed. The Public Works Operations Division, along with the Environment and Sustainability Department identified possible sources of cross-contamination in the area along with site specific conditions that potentially could negatively impact the area. The following were identified as potential sources of bacteria:
- Siphon (underwater sewer pipe) between Parkview Island and 72 Street
- Abandoned force main from North Bay Village at 72 Street
- Abandoned overflow from Sewer Pump Station No. 23 located at 72 Street and Abbot Avenue
- Human waste from homeless community
- Animal waste
- Slow movement of water along the canal, possibly limiting “flushing” effect
Since May 2020 the team has been working to test multiple theories related to these potential sources. This process is labor intensive and slow. Efforts to isolate potential sewer leaks have included multiple dye tests to isolate potential sewer leaks, deep cleaning of the stormwater lines, water quality testing throughout the stormwater system, sediment sampling in the canal, CCTV inspections and smoke testing to determine potential illegal cross connections between private properties sewer lines and the City’s stormwater system. The investigations performed to date have not identified any deficiencies within the city’s public infrastructure.
In October 2020, working collaboratively with Miami-Dade County DERM, a private cross connection between a property’s private wastewater and stormwater systems has been identified at Iris on the Bay, a relatively new development in the easternmost end of Normandy Isle. The City’s Building Department, Public Works Department and DERM have resolved this matter with the private property. While this property is not the source of contamination in the vicinity of 72 Street, it does illustrate that cross-connections from private properties is potentially a source of bacteria.
In October and November 2020, the City hired Source Molecular to complete source tracking analysis to identify fecal gene biomarker for humans and/or canines at four locations within the canal. The results indicated that fecal coliform from humans was not detected or detected, but in quantities below the limit of quantification. Fecal coliform for canines had high concentrations which led the City to launch a multi-tiered outreach campaign began to educate the public and encourage people to pick-up after their animals. This campaign includes advertisement on bus shelters, water bills, digital ads, and direct mailing. Educational signs were installed in the local dog parks, parks, and along the right-of-way and reusable doggie bag dispensers and flyers were distributed to residents walking their dogs in the area as well as to local veterinarians and dog groomers (Attachment A).
In November 2020, the City retained ESciences, a third-party consultant specializing in environmental and ecological investigations, to conduct a thorough analysis of the data and investigations to date and provide a road map forward in the illicit discharge detection and elimination. Concurrently, smoke testing and CCTV inspections have also been performed to determine potential illegal cross connections between private property sewer lines and the city’s stormwater system.
To date the city has spent over $55,000.00 on investigations, water quality sampling, contracting a third party to perform an unbiased investigation, and in performing additional cleaning and maintenance in the stormwater system.
Next Steps
Unfortunately to date conclusive source(s) of the high bacteria has yet to be determined. In April 2021, the City performed an intensive three-day sampling in the canal and all stormwater structures leading to the waterbody. ESciences is currently reviewing the data to understand bacteria count fluctuation in relationship to tidal and weather conditions. Additional sampling will be required and will include source tracking. Additional sampling is anticipated to be conducted in May with the analysis complete in June.
The City is continuing to educate the public on the importance of picking-up after their dogs. Recognizing the high bacteria counts may also be a result of a failure or illegal connection, the City has and will continue to investigate potential causes until a solution is found.
Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Update
The City of Miami Beach owns, operates, and maintains its water distribution and the wastewater collection and transmission systems. A large percentage of these systems were constructed when the City was first established and grew over time as the City was developed. A water and wastewater system that is properly designed, constructed, and maintained is designed to last between 50 and 100 years. Lack of proper maintenance, natural disasters, irresponsible construction activities and accelerated developments can shorten the life of these assets and/or reduce their efficiency.
Recognizing the increasing need to strategically invest in the water and sewer utility, the Public Works Department retained Hazen and Sawyer to develop a comprehensive Water and Sewer Master Plan released in October 2019, to prioritize water and wastewater projects over the next 25 years. The City’s Public Works Department and the Hazen and Sawyer team analyzed and mapped the existing systems to determine capacity needs and develop a project prioritization schedule. In 2020, the Mayor and City Commission approved $122.2M to implement the identified 5-year critical needs. These projects will be funded by $72M from the City’s water and wastewater utility revenues or previous bond issuances and the remaining $50.2M will be funded through the issuance of new bonds.
The implementation of the Water and Sewer Plan has multiple benefits including:
- Ensuring adequate fire suppression capabilities
- Implementing properly sized water and sewer service to residents and visitors
- Accommodating a sustainable growth by adapting the water supply and sewer collection system for additional flows
- Reducing the amount of sewer overflows that have the potential of affecting our health and that of the environment.
- Providing redundancies to the transmission and wastewater collection system to improve the City’s emergency response capabilities.
To date, the City has retained four design consultants to develop construction documents to implement approximately $25.7M worth of infrastructure upgrades. The City is also in contract negotiations with consultants for approximately $22.9M worth of infrastructure projects identified in the Water and Sewer Master Plan. These projects are expected to break ground as early as winter 2021.
The City’s Public Works Department is in contract negotiations with three (3) highly specialized contractors for trenchless gravity pipe rehabilitation, once awarded this contract will provide the City the means to perform gravity sewer rehabilitation in the areas of most critical needs. Sewer basin No. 23, located just east to the Park View waterway, is one of the areas that will be prioritized for this rehabilitation and is anticipated to be complete in the next 24 months..