**UPDATE: June 7, 5:30 p.m.**
The City of St. Pete has started discharging partially-treated wastewater into Tampa Bay from the Albert Whitted wastewater facility, which is currently being used for storage.
Due to Tropical Storm Colin and the inundation of our system from processing wastewater for St. Pete Beach, Gulfport, and Treasure Island, city officials say they have been authorized to discharge partially treated wastewater at the Albert Whitted Plant under General Condition 22 of the city's Wastewater Treatment permit.
This permit allows bypassing around wastewater plants when unusual emergency circumstances are experienced. This bypass will allow partially treated wastewater to be discharged directly into Tampa Bay at a level of treatment similar to what was normal in the 1970s (called Primary Treatment).
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has been notified of a discharge.
The discharge began at 4 p.m. The City of St. Petersburg will sample the discharge water to document the quality of that water.
**UPDATE: June 7, 3:36 p.m.**
Sewer service to Madeira Beach residents has been restored.
According to Pinellas County Utilities, blockages to the system have been cleared for the sewer line servicing Gulf Boulevard from Tom Stuart Causeway south to 140th Avenue.
No further impact to customers are expected.
ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS BELOW:
Tropical Storm Colin has caused a sewer system emergency in St. Pete Beach and Madeira Beach.
The sanitary sewer pipe and pump station system is now completely full and cannot accept any additional flow.
All residents and businesses on these beaches are requested to stop using the sanitary sewer system until further notice. This includes showers, baths, laundry, dish washing and any other use of water that enters the sanitary sewer system.
The situation is expected to continue throughout the day until early evening when the storm passes.
