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Sewage leak is fixed, but anxiety remains

Some residents of Palm Harbor's Baywood Village worry about lingering contamination.

By KAMEEL STANLEY
Published July 10, 2007

PALM HARBOR - A weekend sewage leak in canal-laced Baywood Village leaves no lingering health issues, Pinellas County officials said Monday, but many residents say they're not convinced.

The leak, discovered Saturday in a creek west of U.S. Alt. 19 and south of Klosterman Road, allowed contaminants to seep into a series of intersecting canals in the subdivision.

No water supplies in homes or businesses were contaminated, officials said. But residents in the neighborhood's southeast corner, known as Section 5, worry the leak contaminated sediment and mud in the area.

"I'm glad the break is fixed, but ... until it gets cleared out, that stuff's bound to be in the soil," said Gloria Freeman, of 111 Sunrise Drive. "This isn't just a little thing."

Neighbors say they wonder what will happen during the next low tide, or when someone stirs the dirt with a boat or water scooter.

"I think they need to take soil samples and not just water samples," Freeman said.

County crews had the leak completely fixed by Sunday evening after plugging it Saturday, said Jim Rolston, the county's director of Utility Operations.

Officials said a 6-inch pipe broke, probably because of heavy rain that loosened soil around a newly installed storm drain, compromising a pressurized pump.

Although it's unclear how much sewage made it into the water - officials are still working on an estimate - Rolston said residents shouldn't be concerned about future issues with the soil.

The sewage that leaked out was mostly liquid and was cleared over the weekend, he said.

"The bacteria related to that really doesn't last that long," he said.

Rolston encouraged people to "just wait for the okay and go back to business as usual."

But Bill Suwansky, of 89 East-winds Court, said he doesn't believe there's no future danger. Suwansky said in addition to the foul odor, he and his neighbors saw dead fish, debris and chunks of solids in the water.

"Where there's toilet paper, there's usually other stuff," he said.

Suwansky said he reported the issue Friday but was brushed off at first and thinks that the county might be trying to sweep the problem - and its slow response - under the rug.

"My main problem is accidents are going to happen ... but it's being hush-hush and downplayed," he said.

County officials said its weekend crew responded promptly and followed protocol.

"We went out there immediately," Rolston said. "We did everything we needed to do as quickly as we could."

More than 100 residents in Section 5 of the waterfront community got letters from the homeowners association Saturday explaining the issue. On Monday, county-posted signs warning people to stay out of the water still dotted the neighborhood.

County officials said the water advisory will stay in place until results from several water-quality tests come back.

"Typically it clears itself within 24 to 36 hours," Rolston said.

[Last modified July 9, 2007, 22:21:26]