ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The City of St. Petersburg has temporarily shut down the Northeast Sewer Treatment Plant (located at 1160 62nd Avenue NE) to protect it from an unprecedented storm surge caused by Hurricane Helene.
This decision affects sewer services for residents and businesses north of 30th Avenue N and east of I-275/Haines Road.
The City urges affected residents and businesses not to drain water, take showers, do laundry, or flush toilets, as doing so could cause sewage to back up into homes and buildings. Drinking water, however, remains available.
Read: US Coast Guard Rescues Man And Dog Stranded In The Florida Gulf During Hurricane Helene
Why Was the Plant Shut Down?
The shutdown is a precautionary measure due to the high levels of storm surge, aimed at ensuring the safety and sustainability of sewer services after the storm. While this is the only sewer treatment facility the City anticipates being affected by the surge, it will take a minimum of 48 hours for operations to resume once the plant is inspected and necessary repairs are made.
What Affected Residents Need to Know:
- Service Restoration: It will take at least 48 hours after the storm surge subsides for the plant to be inspected and operations to be safely restarted.
- Sewer System: Residents should avoid draining any water from sinks, bathtubs, or toilets, as this may cause sewage to back up into homes or businesses.
Key Guidelines for Affected Areas:
- Do not drain water from sinks or bathtubs.
- Do not flush toilets.
- Do not use showers, dishwashers, or washing machines.
- Do fill water bottles in advance and brush teeth outdoors or over a container to avoid draining water into the system.
City’s Actions:
City crews are on standby to resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.
The City is actively notifying residents and businesses about the service disruption.
St. Pete Fire Rescue has contacted special needs facilities within the affected area to ensure they are informed.
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