Hurricane Ian: Wastewater Plant Full, Likely To Overflow In Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — Facing the impacts of Category 4 Hurricane Ian, Bradenton residents were warned that the city’s wastewater treatment plant is full and “is in danger of overflowing,” according to a Wednesday morning Facebook post by the city.

Residents are asked to conserve water, the city said. “Don’t do dishes or laundry, flush only when necessary, limit showering.”

Jeannie Roberts, the city’s communications coordinator, told Patch, “It is likely to overflow but we are trying to get people to conserve.”

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

The city is no stranger to sewage issues. Earlier this month, a public pollution notice was released by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection after 9 million gallons of partially treated wastewater was released into Manatee River on Sept. 12 and 13 during heavy rains.

“The water was partially treated. It goes through three levels of treatment, but the water that went through this week river had been treated twice,” Roberts told WFLA.

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In the last five years, about 160 million gallons of partially treated wastewater has found its way into the Manatee River, Justin Bloom, a board member for Suncoast Waterkeeper, an environmental conservation group, told ABC 7.

According to data submitted by the city to the FDEP that number is closer to 30 million gallons, the Bradenton Herald reported.

“The effects are many, there are pathogens in that water that make people and animals sick,” said Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper. “There’s also nutrients in the water, nitrogen and phosphorous that can help bloom algal blooms.”

As part of its recent settlement with Suncoast Waterkeeper over wastewater released in Manatee River, Bradenton city councilors agreed at the end of May to spend about $8 million in federal stimulus money obtained through the American Rescue Plan to improve its sewer system, reports said.

“If it’s going to tax our grandchildren, it needs to do something for them,” Mayor Gene Brown said. “This is a great way to create a wastewater plant and infrastructure system that’s better for a lot of years to come.”