A big cleanup is underway in Fort Lauderdale after a contractor made a big mistake near George English Park.
"Instead of opening up the manhole cover for the pump station, he accidentally opened up a manhole cover for the stormwater system and discharged wastewater from people's houses, " said Alan Dodd, Director of Public Works.
About 3,000 gallons of sewage discharged into the park's lagoon.
Booms have been installed to contain the mess. The cleanup is expected to take about 24 hours.
"We activated a contractor to come in to basically skim all the water and get the as much of it out as possible, pressure washing and cleaning the areas so that it is safe for people to come back and start using it again, " Dodd said.
A No Swim Advisory will remain in effect until water samples come back clean.
City officials have issued a statement:
"The city is taking immediate action in response to an incident involving a pumping contractor who, during sanitation bypass operations, discharged approximately 3,000 gallons of sewage into the stormwater system instead of the sewage system at George English Park. The sewage subsequently entered the George English lagoon.
Our Public Works team acted swiftly upon discovering the error. Both boat ramps in the vicinity have been closed, and our staff has been in direct communication with the park management to ensure comprehensive coordination.
Regulatory agencies were promptly notified, and our team has placed floating booms at strategic points to contain and mitigate the impact. We have activated an emergency contractor to perform cleanup of the waterway and adjacent lands. Water samples are being collected and analyzed, and a no-swim advisory has been issued to ensure the safety of the community until testing shows there is no risk to residents.
We understand the gravity of this situation and the potential concerns it may raise. This is unacceptable. Rest assured, we are fully committed to resolving this matter promptly and transparently. Regular updates will be provided to keep you informed about our progress and any necessary precautionary measures."
Effective immediately, the City of Fort Lauderdale isissuing a precautionary advisory to avoid water-related recreational activities in George English Lake and a portion of the Middle River following the inadvertent discharge of wastewater into the stormwater system at George English Park that discharges into George English Lake.
The boundaries of the impacted area are:
• North:North of NE 12th Street
• South: South of Sunrise Boulevard
• West:NE 20th Avenue
• East: Bayview Drive
Swimming, fishing, jet-skiing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, canoeing, or engaging in any other water-related activities should be avoided within the advisory area. Clean-up is underway and water sampling in the affected area will take place daily. The precautionary advisory will be lifted once satisfactory test results are obtained.