LTC 229-2013 Sewer Force Main Break/Sewerage Release VT
MIAMI BEACH 2013 JUL - 5 AM 11: 54
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamiMcchfl.gov
LTC. No. 229 -2013
l (( i LERWS OFF iCr
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera_ Bower and M bers of the ity Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: July 3, 2013
SUBJECT: SEWER FORCE MAIN BREAK /S WERAGE RELEASE
An advisory was issued by the City of.Miami Beach warning recreational users of Collins Canal,
Indian Creek, and Biscayne Bay along the western shoreline of Miami Beach from Government Cut
to Kennedy Causeway on Tuesday afternoon due to a suspected sewer force main failure in the
vicinity of Convention Center Drive and Meridian Avenue.
On Monday afternoon, June 24 at approximately 3:15 pm, the Public Works Operations control
room noticed an increase in pressure in the wastewater system at several pump stations. Within an
hour, the cause was determined to be that the contractor working for the Miami- DadeCounty Water
and Sewer Department (WASD) had closed a valve in the vicinity of Alton Road and Commerce
Street. Unfortunately, the valve stem broke making the valve inoperable which required that the
valve be excavated to be able to open it. By 4:45 pm, the system pressures were dropping and
returning to normal operating levels.
On Tuesday morning, June 25 at approximately 7:30 am, complaints were being received of sewer
odors just north of the Botanical Gardens between Convention Center Drive and Meridian Avenue.
Initial investigations pointed to an older section of a 30 inch force main with the observance of .
sewerage in Collins Canal. The main pump station that was contributing to that force main was
Pump Station #28 so flow was diverted to a parallel 42 inch force main.
Several agencies including WASD met on site at 3:30 pm and preparations were made to have their
contractor mobilize and commence with immediate actions to isolate the broken pipe and stop any
release of sewerage. The Department of Environmental Management (DERM) was also on site and
took samples for water quality analysis.
Further evaluations actually identified the location of the broken pipe to be closer to 17 Street just
to the west of City Hall. The reason the release appeared in Collins Canal was that the break was
located where the force main penetrated a box culvert in a specially designed conflict structure. The
box culvert_carries stormwater and discharges at the canal.
By 7:00 pm, the contractor was mobilized and began excavating the force main adjacent to 17
Street to install an isolation valve. The installation of a valve would permit an isolation of the broken
pipe and permit time to evaluate and fix the break once it was located. The valve was in place by
8:00 am on Wednesday, June 26
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, histonc community.
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The City's waterway contractor was dispatched to Indian Creek to remove any floating material. The
contractor was mobilized by 9:00 am on Wednesday morning. Approximately 70 gallons of fish,
organic debris, fecal matter, soda cans, plastic bottles, and diapers were collected and properly
disposed. The majority of the material had collected in the Lake Pancoast area, but Indian Creek up
to 69 Street was cleared of all debris.
DERM provided daily sampling throughout the week and reported the attached results 24 hours after
sampling. The samples were indicative of a release and a progressive reduction in contamination
levels consistent with such an event. During a conference call with DERM on Saturday, June 29
the results from Friday were discussed. The bacterial concentrations at all stations were well below
the regulatory limits. As a result, all advisories were lifted as of Saturday afternoon, and all sampling
associated with this event had been suspended.
The broken force main installed in 1945, is within a rectangular drainage culvert, which was installed
in 1956. An exploratory excavation revealed that the force main ruptured when a piece of pipe
approximately 8 inches in diameter blew out within the culvert crossing. Public Works is currently
working with the contractor and their engineer to evaluate plans for the permanent repair of the pipe.
It is anticipated that the work will be completed by July 12
WASD has supplied the parts necessary for the repair and their contractor has performed all of the
- necessary construction to date and is expected to complete the work. Once a final determination is
made as to the cause of the rupture, the costs will be allocated appropriately.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
.Attachment: Results of the surface water quality sampling associated with a non - permitted waste
water discharge
JLM C JJF /AK
F:WORKWLL \(1)EMPLOYEE FOLDERS /FINK/LTC SEWER BREAK 062513
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic cornrnunrly .
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