News

Actions

10,000 gallons of wastewater spills in Polk County as a result of Tropical Storm Emily

Posted at 2:28 PM, Jul 31, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-31 16:11:21-04

Polk County Utilities has reported a wastewater spill of about 10,000 gallons on Monday.

They say that the spill is storm-related, in that the lift station at 3595 Shepherd Road in Lakeland briefly lost power this morning.

RELATED | Tropical Storm Emily expected to dump inches of rain on Tampa Bay

Approximately 10,000 gallons of domestic wastewater discharged from the wet well at Lift Station #100 due to heavy rain and a power outage associated with Tropical Storm Emily. The entire amount entered a near-by drainage ditch that feeds Poley Creek. The lift station was returned to normal operating conditions, ceasing the overflow and restoring power at 12:05 p.m.

Signs will be posted around the creek as a precaution and sampling will be done in the next 24 to 48 hours. State Watch Office was contacted at 1:09 p.m.