The goal is to bring the county and cities together to find solutions to Pinellas’ flooding issues.

PINELLAS COUNTY – The County Commission voted Wednesday (Sept. 14) to form a countywide sewer/stormwater task force with the goal of solving continuing sanitary sewer system issues throughout the county.

The move was based on a suggestion made by Commissioner Charlie Justice who said the impact of recent severe weather, especially from Hurricane Hermine, on the complex network of city, county and private sewer systems showed a need to more comprehensively assess and evaluate infrastructure throughout the county.

“I believe that this collective task force could facilitate more beneficial outcomes through greater collaboration, closer communication and mutual support when needed, as well as enable all task force partners to better solve the key wastewater system issues we face: capacity and inflow/infiltration,” Justice said.

The proposed countywide sewer/stormwater task force would be comprised of the county, 13 municipalities that provide sewer service and three private utility systems, all working toward improved management of wastewater systems and mitigation of emergency situations countywide.

Once established, the task force is expected to create long-term, comprehensive solutions for stormwater inflow and groundwater infiltration issues, as well as identify the potential need for increased countywide system capacity. Capacity is directly impacted by the amount of stormwater flowing into the sewer system and the amount of groundwater penetrating the system.

“Our residents want solutions, and they look to their elected officials for proactive action,” Justice said. “By coming together with our partners, we can lay the groundwork for better reaction to emergencies, improving our infrastructure and, ultimately, providing better services for our citizens.”

For information about Pinellas County, go to pinellascounty.org.

Pinellas County | Hurricane Hermine | Sewer System | Sewer Task Force| TB Reporter

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