ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — An unknown amount of raw sewage spilled into the Matanzas River Wednesday night after Hurricane Milton brought heavy rainfall, severing a major sewer main at the Anastasia Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The incident happened around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday as Milton brought strong winds and rain to the First Coast after making landfall as a powerful major hurricane in Siesta Key hours earlier.
On Friday, approximately a dozen St. Johns County Utility Department workers and local contractors constructed a temporary above ground line to restore service, the county posted to social media.
St. Johns County officials said the incident will not cause interruptions to water or sewer service. However, officials urged residents not to fish or swim in the Intracoastal Waterway near State Road 312 until the water quality is tested.
The Matanzas Riverkeeper said the spill is "currently ongoing," and the Upper Matanzas River was impacted by untreated wastewater. The sewer overflow was contained to two stormwater ponds within the facility. The Riverkeeper said crews have been manually pumping sewage directly into the wastewater treatment basins.
The Riverkeeper urged residents to avoid contact with the river in the impacted areas. The full extent of the impacts from the spill is still being assessed.
County officials said crews are installing a temporary sewer main to bypass the sewer flow to the Anastasia Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.
"Crews will work around the clock to expedite the process," county officials said, adding that once the bypass is operational, staff will restore the stormwater ponds to their normal operational state.
A new permanent major sewer main will then be installed after the temporary bypass is set up.
Residents can call the Citizen Information Hotline at 904-824-5550 with any questions.
