Officials said they were made aware of “an unusual odor by the Carillon Lakes community” weeks ago.
Lakeland officials say likely more than 2,000 gallons of wastewater have spilled onto city-owned land as a result of a wastewater force main break.
The 12-inch wastewater main break was identified on Monday in a remote wetland about 1,500 square feet northeast of 5001 Gateway Boulevard. The water main services industrial customers in that area.
The spill appears to be contained on about 100 acres of land that is “not easily accessible” to the public, a city spokesperson said in a statement. Crews had to use heavy equipment to gain access to the area and confirm the source of the spill.
Officials from Lakeland, Polk County, and other state agencies say they were first made aware of “an unusual petroleum odor by the Carillon Lakes community” weeks ago. The agencies have been working together since then to identify the smell, which led to the discovery of the wastewater main break.
An emergency contractor has responded to the area and is expected to have line stops and a 4,000-foot bypass line in place by Wednesday evening to control the spill.
The city is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to ensure all appropriate remediation actions are taken.
The city has hired an emergency contractor to install a line stop. The plan is for the contractor to place approximately 4,000 feet of bypass line to reroute the wastewater by Wednesday evening.
Lakeland will continue working with the FDEP, Florida Department of Health, and other agencies on the spill and any remediation efforts that might be required, according to a statement.
“I think people in our community will have their faith restored as we got an immediate response from the city commissioners,” Russ Delaney, a Carillon Lakes resident said. “I’m impressed.”