Water Advisory Expands As Crews Continue To Repair Ruptured Fort Lauderdale Sewer Line
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Crews continue to work around the clock to fix a broken sewer main in Fort Lauderdale as the City expands the boundaries of its precautionary advisory for recreational activities in local waterways.
The break occurred in a 42-inch main at George English Park, right across the street from the Galleria Mall, Thursday morning. This is a main transmission line in the city; it runs for seven and a half miles, parts of it have broken four times since December.
This is the seventh overall break to flood streets with sludge in about seven weeks.
The city Saturday night, their contractor continued to fuse together sections of the 32-inch bypass pipe and prepare it connection to two tapping saddles installed on the 42-inch pipe.
If everything goes as planned, the bypass line will be connected overnight.
"The repair work entails installing a bypass line that will divert the flow around the damaged portion of the pipe to keep it fully contained in the system and prevent any further discharge from entering into the river," said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
Once the bypass is up and running, crews will work to repair the broken section. They are hoping to have that repair done by late Sunday or early Monday.
The City announced Saturday that it is also expanding its precautionary advisory for water-related recreational activities such as swimming, fishing jet skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing.
The boundaries of the expanded advisory are as follows:
- Oakland Park Boulevard, including both the north and south forks of the Middle River (north);
- The New River east of Victoria Park Road (south)
- The Intracoastal Waterway and adjacent canals (east); and
- Victoria Park Road in Fort Lauderdale, extending west to I-95 in Wilton Manors (west).
In addition, the following restrictions remain in effect until further notice.
- George English Lake is closed until further notice.
- George English Park Boat Ramp is closed until further notice.
Eight aerators are in place and operating in George English Lake and the Middle River to help improve water quality by increasing oxygen levels in the water, increasing circulation, breaking down organic matter in the discharge, and helping to control odor. Crews are also continuing skimming activities and debris removal in George English Lake and the Middle River.
There are road closures as well. Bayview Drive is closed between Sunrise Boulevard and NE 11 Court. Motorists traveling south on Bayview Drive will be turned around at NE 11 Court. To access Sunrise Boulevard, motorists on Bayview Drive should use NE 26 Street to access southbound US 1 / Federal Highway or Oakland Park Boulevard to access southbound A1A. Bayview Drive is open to local traffic only between Oakland Park Boulevard and NE 11 Court.
Neighbors in the affected areas are reminded to avoid contact with any standing water. If contact is made, wash your hands with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after contact with wastewater, especially before preparing or eating food.