Wastewater Spill At Madeira Beach
Wastewater spill at Madeira Beach. And, ewww. Pinellas County officials reported on February 23, 2023, that an estimated 7,400 gallons of untreated wastewater had been spilled into the channel that separates Treasure Island and Madeira Beach in Florida due to an abandoned shovel left in a manhole. The shovel likely blocked the wastewater that flowed from nearby businesses on the John’s Pass boardwalk, causing the water to overflow. As a result, enough dirty water to fill nearly 200 bathtubs was emptied into John’s Pass on Tuesday night.
Of the four water samples the county received on Thursday, two showed overly high bacteria levels, indicating that the area is not yet cleared for recreational activities. The spill lasted nearly 3½ hours, beginning just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to an initial pollution notice the county submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday morning.
The county put out three warning signs urging the public to stay out of the water: one upstream of the spill, one downstream, and a third at the spot where wastewater empties from the drain into the waterway. The signs will remain posted until the water improves. The county is working on piecing together a more detailed pollution report, and the state is investigating the spill. It is currently unclear who left behind the shovel.
While a 7,400-gallon spill pales in comparison to some recent local wastewater spills reported to the state, this one directly impacted a waterway. The county is out there sampling until they feel it’s resolved, and they’ll let nature do its thing. Wind can help to break up densely concentrated wastewater spills. Fortunately, it was blowing at 16 mph in Madeira Beach on Wednesday and 11 mph on Thursday, which could aid in the clearing of the water. TBT
