Red Tide - Sewer and Water System Update

Editors note:  The following updates on Red Tide and Lido Key Storm preparations are excerpted from Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin's weekly city newsletter.  A couple of items of of particular note to Lido Shorians.  Neighbors who are impacted by rotting fish can bag them and put them in the weekly trash pickup.  A smelly task for sure... but might help alleviate some of the persistent smell when coastal breezes are blowing inland.

Here's another heads up.   Because of the massive beach loss on Lido Key, a major tropical storm or hurricane could trigger the city to shut down our islands entire water and sewer system.  That's to keep sea water out of the system.  A good size storm would be a mixed blessing.  Driving the red tide bloom back out to sea... but potentially shutting down our water supply.  

A dose of reality, for sure, so let's keep fingers crossed for beach renourishment on the southern portion of Lido Key and a mild storm to send red tide packing.

~Bob Thill
bthill@icloud.com

Red Tide Update  Earlier this week, with concurrence from Mayor Liz Alpert, a local State of Emergency was declared due to the impacts from a red tide algae bloom that has plagued Florida's Gulf Coast. The state of emergency follows similar declarations made by Sarasota County and the state of Florida and will last into next week, though it may be extended in seven-day increments as necessary. The declaration shows our need to continue to respond effectively and efficiently for the health and safety of our residents and guests and is a necessary step in securing possible financial assistance from the state or federal government. We are coordinating closely with Sarasota County, which has been leading cleanup efforts at Lido Beach and all of the beaches in the county, and with the state's emergency management team. Sarasota County cleanup crews raking Lido Beach. The declaration reflects what an enormous challenge and threat red tide is to the Gulf Coast.  Understanding how the activity of life on land contributes to the natural formation of red tide is a high priority.  As home to Mote Marine Laboratory, City and area residents are heavily involved with this research.  We will continue to coordinate with Mote, the state and county to learn all we can about this monumental challenge and utilize this space to keep residents informed.  Many are discussing if the blooms can be broken up or dispersed; however, at the moment we remain dependent on nature, winds, and tides to move red tide away from the shoreline.  There is scientific consensus that red tide blooms, caused by Karenia brevis, are naturally occurring, start 10-40 miles offshore and are exacerbated by land-based nutrients as they move onshore.  It's uncertain how long this current algal bloom will continue to linger on our shoreline and affect our area, as red tide is difficult to forecast. I've asked county health officials to monitor local hospitals for any upticks in respiratory-related cases in our emergency rooms. I've also asked our Emergency Manager, Todd Kerkering, to document the impacts of red tide at selected sites so that we may strive to understand the daily fish composition and the impacts of weather and wind. Small businesses that have been affected by red tide may be eligible for short-term, interest-free loans of up to $50,000 through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Business owners with two to 100 employees can apply now through Oct. 12 at www.floridadisasterloan.org. Residents whose properties may be impacted by dead fish can place closed, tied-up bags in their regular 95-gallon City trash container, and it will be collected on their normal collection day. For more red tide information, resources, updates and helpful links, visit the City's homepage at www.sarasotafl.gov.

Lido Key - Utilities & Storm Preps   I recently inspected the City's water and sewer system on Lido Key along with Utilities Director Bill Riebe. Given the current levels of severe erosion we have seen on the Key and the potential of an inundation and/or partial or full breach of the island during a major storm event, our team is prepared to close either all or portions of the water and wastewater system on Lido, depending on the severity of the storm and the projected damage. During such an event, we would first identify the impacted areas based on information from the City's Emergency Operations Center. From there, we would notify all impacted residents and businesses of an interruption in service via signage and through alerts issued on the City's CodeRED notification system (if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for CodeRED alerts and weather warnings here). Crews would be dispatched pre-storm to close existing water main valves and insert temporary plugs in gravity sewer mains along affected streets. Plugging the sewer mains will prevent continuous saltwater flow from entering the sewer system, overwhelming the wastewater pump station on Lido Key and destroying the microbes in the City's biological wastewater treatment process. Without the microbes, the wastewater treatment process will not work. In the event it is necessary to completely isolate the entire water and sewer system on Lido Key from the rest of the City's system, the Utilities Department would completely de-energize Lift Station 31 on Lido Key, halting all service. Lift Station 31 on Lido Key. Following the storm event, the water and sewer system would be evaluated and returned to service following any necessary repairs and testing. Depending on the extent of the damage, this could take several hours or several weeks. Having these disaster preparedness plans in place ensures that our community can not only safely weather a storm, but enter the recovery phase that much sooner and more efficiently. We hope that by now you and your family have your own preparedness plans solidified - remember, although it's been quiet in the Gulf so far, hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30.