St. Petersburg Enhances Wastewater Treatment Resilience in Response to Hurricane Risks

St. Petersburg Tackles Wastewater Treatment Resilience Amid Hurricane Threats

St. Petersburg, Florida, is taking significant steps to address vulnerabilities in its wastewater treatment facilities after two recent hurricanes forced shutdowns that highlighted critical areas for improvement. City Council members met on December 5 to discuss ongoing challenges and consider innovative solutions to storm resiliency as extreme weather events become increasingly common.

Understanding the Challenges

The Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, located at 1160 62nd Ave. NE, faced major operational issues during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Current infrastructure can only handle a seven-foot storm surge, but a $70 million project aims to elevate this threshold to 11 feet, exceeding federal flood guidelines. However, the devastation expected from Hurricane Milton, which was anticipated to bring a 12 to 15-foot surge, exposed critical vulnerabilities.

“If we were to raise the plant to be safe under 42 feet of a storm surge – that’s probably not feasible,” stated Claude Tankersley, the city’s public works director. The sheer height would likely be impractical for local neighborhoods, he added. This presents a complex challenge for officials, who must find realistic methods to protect the city’s sewage facilities.

Strategic Improvements Underway

The city officials are exploring various options for protecting the Northeast facility, which is the most vulnerable in St. Petersburg. Nearby water bodies and low elevation make it particularly susceptible to flooding. The second facility, the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility located at 3800 54th Ave. S., also closed during Hurricane Milton but has a slightly more robust seven-foot threshold.

Tankersley emphasized the need for a tailored approach, noting that relocating the facilities is not a viable option due to limited available land. He referenced a past situation in Pensacola, where officials spent half a billion dollars relocating a treatment plant after Hurricane Ivan, illustrating the significant logistical hurdles St. Petersburg faces.

Exploring Innovative Solutions

Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz suggested considering perimeter flood barriers, similar to the temporary AquaFence system implemented by Tampa General Hospital, though it would still fail against the extreme storm surge predicted in a Category 5 hurricane. Tankersley confirmed that while building a wall around the plants might be an option, it presents its own complications and costs.

Approximately two-thirds of St. Petersburg’s residents rely on these wastewater treatment plants for basic sanitation. During previous outages, officials urged the public to conserve water to prevent sewage overflows, which could lead to environmental hazards. Last year, the Northeast plant experienced over a million gallons of leakage into local communities when it had to be shut down during Hurricane Helene.

Action Moving Forward

City Administrator Rob Gerdes confirmed that critical electrical equipment at the Southwest facility has been elevated to 12 feet above sea level, with similar upgrades ongoing at the Northeast site. Completion of the storm-hardening project is expected by 2026, although officials are trying to expedite the timeline.

In addition to immediate upgrades, council members recognized the need for securing funding to support further environmental resiliency projects. Councilmember Gina Driscoll insisted it was time for the city to aggressively seek out federal funding available for essential infrastructure improvements.

As storm seasons continue to intensify, St. Petersburg grapples with the balance of immediate action and long-term planning to secure its wastewater treatment facilities against future disasters.