UPDATE (June 9, 2025 - Evening): The City of Palm Bay has provided an evening update on the ongoing emergency response to the sewer forcemain break near 1050 Clearmont Street NE. City-contracted emergency responder, Cathcart Construction Company, will remain on-site through the night to continue restoration and remediation efforts.
According to the update, the leak is now expected to be fully stopped by approximately 8:15 PM this evening, with complete repairs to the sewer main anticipated by midnight. Vacuum trucks, which have been operating on-site since 8:45 AM to recover discharged wastewater, will continue running overnight to assist in the cleanup and environmental recovery.
Crucially, the City is now urging residents to avoid contact with Turkey Creek or surrounding waterways until further notice. This includes no fishing, boating, or swimming. The City reiterates that there is no impact to the drinking water supply, which remains safe and unaffected.
Palm Bay, FL - The City of Palm Bay is actively responding to a significant sewer forcemain break that occurred Monday morning, June 9, 2025, near 1050 Clearmont Street NE. The incident involves a critical 20-inch sewer main, resulting in an active discharge of untreated wastewater onto the ground.
According to a press release from the City, the pipe serves as a primary feed to the wastewater treatment plant, which means the flow cannot be immediately shut down without disrupting the entire system.
Public Health & Safety Information
DRINKING WATER IS SAFE: City officials have issued a clear reassurance that there is NO IMPACT to the City's drinking water supply. The potable water system is entirely separate from the sewer network, and no boil-water advisory has been issued.
Public Health Advisory: While drinking water is safe, the wastewater discharge poses environmental and public health risks. Untreated sewage can contain pathogens. Residents are advised to avoid the immediate vicinity of the break on Clearmont Street NE and any adjacent drainage swales until cleanup operations are fully completed.
The City's Emergency Response
Upon detection, the City immediately activated its emergency response plan. Key actions include:
Mobilizing Emergency Resources: City crews were dispatched to the scene to begin containment.
Engaging Expert Contractors: The City has engaged Cathcart Construction Company, a contractor with extensive experience in municipal sewer main repairs in Brevard County, to lead the effort to isolate and repair the break.
Containment & Repair Timeline: Containment efforts are currently underway. By mid-morning, crews had successfully installed temporary plugs and began rerouting wastewater flow around the damaged section. The City anticipates the spill will be controlled by mid-afternoon today, June 9. All recovered sewage is being tanked and transported to the adjacent treatment plant for proper treatment.
Traffic Impacts: Residents should anticipate periodic traffic impacts on Clearmont Street NE due to the movement of repair crews and heavy equipment.
Context and Future Steps
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of maintaining Palm Bay's extensive wastewater infrastructure, which includes 105 lift stations and 58 miles of force mains serving approximately 40,000 residents. The city has previously contended with significant spills, particularly after extreme weather events, and has committed between $30 million and $33 million for long-term upgrades to lift stations and pipes to enhance the system's resilience.
The City's Utilities Department will implement daily groundwater and soil sampling around the break area for at least one week to ensure no lasting contamination. A comprehensive incident report, including a root-cause analysis and recommendations for system upgrades, is scheduled to be presented at the June 19 City Council meeting.
How to Stay Informed 📞
The City will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
For the most current information, residents should call the citizen hotline at 321-726-5683.
For media inquiries, the point of contact is the City's Public Information Officer, Christina Born, at 321-474-4510.
The Palm Bayer will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as they become available.
Curated by AI and fact-checked by The Palm Bayer.
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