After recent devastating environmental events, including toxic algae blooms that polluted beaches and waterways in northern Florida, Red Tide outbreaks in the Gulf of Mexico and sargassum seaweed off the Atlantic Coast, leaders statewide are increasing pressure to move away from underground waste-storage systems to a closed, environmentally friendlier sewer system.
While the debate in Florida continues over the root cause of these environment issues, experts point to the benefits of a closed sewer system that is professionally maintained over an underground waste storage systems. Concerns over septic systems include:
- Septic tanks need to be properly maintained by property owners, including sludge removal.
- Leaking tanks can harm the environment as contaminants from the septic system could potentially reach limited drinking water sources.
- A high water table due to heavy rains forces contaminants into nearby rivers and canals.
- Sea-level rise pushes groundwater higher and closer to dry septic drain fields. Dry soil in the septic drain field helps to filter septic tank effluent. Environmental contamination is more likely when septic drain fields become saturated.
- For customer and municipal planning and budgeting purposes, a proactive approach to converting septic systems to a sewer system is a best practice. A reactive approach tends to be more costly for customers.
Septic to sewer conversions and water main replacement projects are currently underway in Hollywood. On April 18, 2018 the Department of Public Utilities held a City Commission workshop to provide an update on the ongoing Septic to Sewer Conversion and Water Main Replacement Projects currently underway in Hollywood. At that workshop a 10 year and 20 year City-wide plan was presented to the Commission regarding expanding to include areas of the City currently unsewered and/or without updated water lines. The Commission directed staff to pursue the 10 year "Full Sewer Expansion & Original Water Main Replacement" plan. All are encouraged to view the video from the workshop and the PDF file of the presentation to become familiar with the project scope and what it will mean for property owners.
VIEW PROJECT SCHEDULE
VIEW THE PRESENTATION HERE
WATCH VIDEO FROM WORKSHOP