It will cost the City of Lakeland nearly a million dollars to clean up a wetland near the Carillon Lakes neighborhood where more than 1,000 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled earlier this year.
The spill was discovered on April 22, but according to a staff summary, the leak from a broken 12-inch force main “had been occurring for a significant amount of time and was likely the source of odor complaints from nearby residents.”
Crews contained the spill and rerouted the wastewater through a 4,000-foot bypass line within two days. “However, that particular force main does convey a large portion of industrial waste,” City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told Lakeland Commissioners on Friday.
Because of the size of the spill and soil sampling results, Sherrouse said the Florida Department of Environment Protection requires extensive clean-up and remediation of the site in southwest Lakeland. .
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Sherrouse said it’s important for the work to begin as soon as possible — before the heavy rainy season begins and floods the site, which is a wooded wetland. Carillon Lakes residents have told city staff that recent rains have caused the odor to return.
The Commission will vote on the contract at its meeting Monday at 9 a.m. in the chambers on the third floor of City Hall.