St. Pete Beach prepares its sewers for the next big storm

In the days after Hurricane Milton, St. Pete Beach residents were told not to flush their toilets, take showers or wash dishes. Storm surge had flooded electrical equipment at the city’s sewage pumping stations, bringing the wastewater system to a standstill.

Two years later, the city is still working to prevent that from happening again.

St. Pete Beach commissioners unanimously approved plans Tuesday to rehabilitate three sewage lift stations damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. The improvements include elevated electrical equipment, backup generators and other work intended to keep wastewater moving during future storms.

The roughly $1.5 million in previously contracted construction work covers stations in Belle Vista, near Corey Avenue and in Pass-a-Grille. The projects are expected to be completed by July 2027.

“Our sewer system is at a complete standstill,” then-Mayor Adrian Petrila said following Milton, according to WUSF’s reporting at the time.

With the system offline, officials warned that continued water use could cause sewage to back up into homes. Crews scrambled to bring temporary generators online and bypass damaged equipment, while residents were warned that restoring normal service could take more than a week.

For a barrier island community dependent on tourism, reliable wastewater service is essential to the hotels, restaurants and waterfront businesses that support its economy.

Public Services Director Camden Mills outlined plans Tuesday to raise electrical controls above the base flood elevation at each station and install elevated platforms supporting permanent backup generators.

The structures will stand roughly 13 to 14 feet tall, including the generators.

The contracted construction costs total approximately $514,000 for Lift Station 7 at Belle Vista Triangle Park, $541,000 for Lift Station 10 at Fisherman’s Park near Corey Avenue and $500,000 for Lift Station 4 near Pass-a-Grille Marina.

A substantial portion of each project’s cost is associated with flood mitigation. The improvements are being funded through the city’s wastewater utility.

But installing large, elevated equipment in established neighborhoods has required compromises.

At Belle Vista Triangle Park, the proposed structure will stand near the entrance to a residential neighborhood. Residents have spent months discussing its location and appearance with city staff.

Greg Premer, a Belle Vista resident, told commissioners the neighborhood wasn’t pleased about the addition.

“Nobody wanted this structure in front of our neighborhood,” Premer said. “The size of a large garage is being forced on the residents of Belle Vista.”

Even so, he recognized the importance of the work beyond his neighborhood.

“We’re kind of taking one for the team for everybody down south of us,” he said.

After reviewing several possible locations, city staff settled on a design that avoided approximately $160,000 in additional underground utility relocation costs.

Residents also requested wood-look fencing, additional landscaping and improvements to the neighborhood’s entrance, including a monument sign.

Mayor Scott Tate argued that the city’s cost savings warranted further consideration of those requests.

“I’m not sure that $30,000 is an unreasonable ask,” Tate said.

Commissioner Jon Maldonado questioned whether the city should use public money for amenities unrelated to the station’s operation.

“This is a want versus a need,” Maldonado said, suggesting neighborhood groups could help fund some of the improvements through voluntary contributions.

City officials explained that wastewater utility funds could not pay for unrelated neighborhood beautification, meaning any additional amenities would require another funding source.

Commissioners approved the Belle Vista project, agreeing to revisit the beautification requests in June 2027.

At Fisherman’s Park, near Corey Avenue, commissioners discussed how to make another large elevated generator less imposing in the small waterfront space. Suggestions included decorative wraps or artwork from local artists.

The city agreed to revisit those possibilities next year without delaying the station improvements.

The three projects are part of a larger effort to maintain and rebuild St. Pete Beach’s wastewater infrastructure. As of September, the city reported that it had cleaned and inspected approximately 98.5% of its wastewater pipes and 85% of its manholes to identify maintenance problems and needed repairs.

Farther south, the planned rehabilitation of Lift Station 4 has raised concerns about access for neighboring businesses.

The station sits in the public right of way at the end of 20th Avenue, between The Wharf restaurant and Pass-a-Grille Marina. The marina uses a large mechanical lift to move boats, leaving little room to maneuver around the proposed equipment.

City staff recommended removing fencing, adjusting a curb and modifying a landscaped median to reduce the risk of a collision.

Maldonado, who said he had met with marina representatives, supported those changes. He also emphasized that accommodating the surrounding businesses could not come at the expense of the sewer system.

He described the danger of a large boat lift striking the equipment and potentially interrupting wastewater service.

“We do not want to do anything that’s going to impact or even put this station at risk,” Maldonado said.