St. Petersburg Shuts Down Sewage Plant After Historic Storm Surge

Residents in northeast St. Pete face 48 hours without functioning wastewater facilities due to Hurricane Helene's impact.

The Northeast Water Reclamation Facility, serving 25% of St. Petersburg, was taken offline to protect it from storm surge exceeding 7 feet.
Residents in affected areas cannot flush toilets, shower, or drain sinks, with backups potentially causing sanitary sewer overflows.
Mayor Ken Welch stated the city has known about the facility's vulnerability since 2022 and is investing $70 million in upgrades expected to be completed by 2026.
Portable toilets are being brought in to assist residents, and the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation has warned businesses against handling food without proper wastewater facilities.
Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged the situation and indicated state assistance would be available if requested by local officials.