Sewer line break….again!

A ruptured 36 inch sewer line could be under control by Thursday morning, after crews worked in filth for the better part of Wednesday to fix the break. Public works crews say between 100,000 and 150,000 gallons of sewage gushed from the pipe finding its way through storm sewers to Biscayne Bay.

Crews began to truck untreated waste from Bal Harbour, Surfside and North Bay Village that otherwise would have flowed into the broken line directly to the treatment plant, bypassing the break. That reduction in sewage volume has helped crews get a handle on the problem.

The public is being asked to avoid the area until repairs are completed.

As a way to minimize flow of sewer/wastewater into this area, the city is asking residents and visitors in the area to minimize discharge into drains and flushing of toilets.

Because of the sewage draining into the bay, a no-swim order has been posted for the bay in the area of the break.

The Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) has issued a precautionary swimming advisory for eastern Biscayne Bay from 88 to 57 streets.