The state has determined a raw sewage leak first reported as a “foul odor” by Southwest Lakeland residents is substantially larger than first reported, leading to an expanded cleanup effort.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection determined Lakeland’s wastewater force main break discovered last year near Gateway Boulevard spilled approximately 1.8 million gallons of raw sewage into the wetlands between January 2020 and April 2024.
Lakeland commissioners voted 6-0 Monday to approve a $2.65 million change order with Bartow-based ACT Environmental and Infrastructure to vastly expand the cleanup of contaminated soil in an undeveloped area north of the Carillon Lakes community. This is the city’s second phase of environmental remediation.
“It’s imperative that this work commences before we get to the heavy rainy season,” City Manager Shawn Sherrouse told commissioners.
FDEP has given Lakeland a deadline of Oct. 31 to comply with cleanup.
Additional sampling later performed by Tetra Tech showed the contaminated soil in the wetlands expands far outside the original boundaries, Sherrouse said.
Under the new contract, ACT plans to construct approximately 1,225 feet of truck roadway and a temporary shallow water crossing and deploy portable mud mats to get into the area.
Once there is access to the site, ACT plans to clear cut approximately seven acres of mostly wetland tree species, like cypress, and clear any fallen trees, the contract reads.
FDEP has required the city to obtain the appropriate number of forested freshwater state Mitigation Bank Credits, if required, for the areas impacted, according to the consent order.
Once the trees are cleared, ACT expects to dig out the top 6 inches of soil, approximately 8,700 tons. This will then be backfilled with 6,450 tons of clean imported soil.
Overall, the environmental cleanup is expected to take approximately 100 business days as crews will not work on nights, weekends or holidays. If started immediately following Monday’s commission meeting, that would make cleanup complete by the end of August, ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline.
FDEP has proposed to fine Lakeland more than $200,000 for failing to maintain its equipment, unauthorized discharge of wastewater and discharging untreated wastewater into wetlands and surface water.
The city may choose to proposed an “in-kind” project, that must be 1.5 times, or valued at least $303,000 of an environmental nature.