Daily water testing underway following untreated sewage leak in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – On Saturday, June 21, the City of Fort Lauderdale has issued a precautionary advisory urging residents or those who visit the area to temporarily avoid all water-based recreational activities in some parts of the Seminole River Canal and nearby parts of the Intracoastal Waterway. The alert was prompted by a wastewater discharge incident tied to a grease blockage in an 8-inch sewer gravity main, which caused untreated wastewater to enter the stormwater system.
City officials have advised individuals not to swim, fish, or do things like jet-skiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, or canoeing in the area that is affected. The area that was affected is from SE 15th Street to SE 17th Street and from Cordova Road to the Intracoastal Waterway.
As a safety measure, tests of the water quality will be done every day during the advisory period. The advisory will stay in effect until lab tests show that the water conditions have returned to safe levels.
The city is actively monitoring the situation and working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Residents with questions or concerns can reach the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Customer Service Center by calling 954-828-8000, sending an email to [email protected], using the FixItFTL app, or visiting fortlauderdale.gov/fixitftl.
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In addition, the city encourages everyone to enroll in its Alert FTL system—a free emergency notification service that delivers real-time updates through calls, text messages, or emails. Registration is available at fortlauderdale.gov/alertftl.
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City officials emphasize that this advisory is strictly precautionary and is being issued out of an abundance of caution to protect public health.
