Nassau Amelia Utilities sewer main ruptures sending waste into Amelia River

Florida Department of

Environmental Protection

Notification

Contact: Michael Wiltshire

mwiltshire@nassaucountyfl.com

October 25, 2017 1:00 a.m.

Editor's Note: On October 18, a sewer line break occurring in the unincorporated south end of Amelia Island, resulted in a significant discharge into the Amelia River. Amelia Island Utilities is a Nassau County entity. The following is a report from the Florida Environmental Protection Agency.

Notice of Submission

The sewer force main from lift station #1 ruptured between the lift station and the treatment plant. The leak is located at the east gate of the treatment plant grounds. Sewage from the line break was going onto the treatment plant grounds and some flow entered the drainage ditch around the treatment plant grounds. This ditch empties out to the Nassau Amelia River. Estimated loss from this line break is approximately 50,000 gallons, with an unknown amount going into the ditch.

The leak is believed to have started @8am Wednesday, October 18, 2017. The leak was discovered @ 1:30pm that same day. Actions were taken to stop the overflow into the ditch, and to move the sewage from the lift station to the treatment plant by tanker trucks until an emergency temporary pipe line is installed. Silt fencing is being placed downstream of the overflow in the ditch. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the State Watch office were both notified by phone, and email of this incident.

Incident Location

Facility/Installation Name: Nassau Amelia Utilities

Address Line 1: 5390 First Coast Highway

City: Fernandina Beach

State: FL

Zip Code: 32034

Coordinates (in decimal degrees):

Lat: 30.577386773695906, Long: -81.45023002902188

Impacted Counties: Nassau

Incident Reported By

Name: Danny White

Title: Operator II

Phone: (904) 530-6450

E-mail Address: dwhite@nassaucountyfl.com

On-Site Contact

Name: Michael Wiltshire

Phone: (904) 530-6450

E-mail Address: mwiltshire@nassaucountyfl.com