PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — Surge, not sewage, was released into Charlotte Harbor following the effects of Hurricane Helene, according to the City of Punta Gorda. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection initially reported that 1.6 million gallons of “raw sewage” escaped from the city’s master pump station, raising alarms among local residents. However, city officials insist that what truly occurred was an overwhelming influx of stormwater rather than any failure of their wastewater treatment system.
Watch FOX 4’s Alex Orenczuk report on the City of Punta Gorda’s response to an FDEP notice of pollution:
City of Punta Gorda: Surge not sewage released after Hurricane Helene
On Thursday, a pollution notice submitted to the FDEP by Utility Supervisor David Brooks indicated a wastewater release from Sept. 26-29. The release was attributed to storm surge, with a cautionary statement about its potential impacts on the Charlotte Harbor.
Officials, however, clarified the incident after queries from FOX 4. Assistant City Manager Melissa Reichert emphasized that no actual sewage was released—only stormwater that surged into the wastewater facility.
“It was neither straight raw sewage nor into the harbor. This was strictly Helene related. The surge flooded our 60 pumping stations and 1,293 manholes. The Henry Street master pump was at full capacity for days. This overflow was exceptionally dilute, primarily rainwater and harbor water, rather than the concentrated raw sewage we handle under normal circumstances,” explained Reichert, clarifying the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Unfortunately, the form used to report pollution does not accommodate stormwater reports, leading to Brooks selecting ‘raw sewage’ as a descriptor. FDEP officials were aware of the storm surge scenario, according to Reichert.
Nonetheless, experts are concerned. The unprecedented storm surge caused by Hurricane Helene may impede water quality in Charlotte Harbor. Nicole Iadevaia, a leading voice from the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership, noted that nutrient and bacteria pollution could pose risks to the local aquatic ecosystems. “The influx of nutrients can lead to harmful algae blooms, suffocating existing marine vegetation and disrupting local wildlife,” she articulated.
Such pollution notices are common after major storms, as land-based pollutants wash into the waterways, creating cascading ecological challenges. “These ecosystems have always endured storms, but we are finding they lack resilience due to ongoing nutrient and bacteria pollution,” Iadevaia explained. A poignant reminder of this is the decline of seagrass in Charlotte Harbor post-Hurricane Irma in 2018, a shift that has yet to see recovery.
To safeguard the long-term health of Charlotte Harbor, investments into robust infrastructure are necessary to mitigate pollutants and prevent them from tainting the water during storm events. “It’s easier to address pollution at its source than to tackle it once it’s already in our waters,” Iadevaia noted, expressing a clear call for action. Involving local businesses, like the historic Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda, in infrastructure upgrades could foster a stronger environment as they collectively work towards reducing nutrient pollution.
For those wanting to remain informed about water quality and the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership’s initiatives for monitoring the greater Charlotte Harbor, CLICK HERE.
