PALM BAY, Fla. — Emergency repairs are underway in Palm Bay after hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater spilled when a stormwater pipe failed during Hurricane Milton.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates some 300,000 gallons leaked out in the area of Norwood Street over a four-hour period.
“They were talking about a concrete cylinder being cracked,” said Carmelo Berrios, who lives next to the pipe break.
Berrios hopes the city will get things fixed in a timely fashion.
“I hope they get it done soon. I don’t need to see mountains of dirt back there,” he said.
Palm Bay currently has $33 million in approved improvements to its wastewater and stormwater systems, including upgrades to lift stations, baffle boxes, piping and installation of “smart” manhole covers providing information about pipe blockages.
There are 25 future projects planned over the next five years.
In a statement, Palm Bay mayor Rob Medina said, “The safety and wellbeing of our residents are our priority. This event underscores the importance of maintaining and improving our infrastructure to withstand the challenges posed by weather and erosion. We are committed to ensuring these vital systems continue to serve our community reliably.”
Public works employees are currently monitoring the break site and a contractor will be hired to perform permanent repairs.