The year’s just begun, and St. Pete leaders are already making major moves to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.
Late last week, St. Pete City Council members voted to invest $600,000+ in an AquaFence — like the one used to safely surround Tampa General last year — to protect a wastewater station near Albert Whitted Airport.
The 500-ft long and 9-ft tall barrier will be deployed during storms to protect Lift Station #85 from a combined total of 15 ft of storm surge. For reference, Hurricane Helene caused up to 7.8 ft of storm surge in some areas of Tampa Bay.
How does that impact us during storms?
Officials sometimes have to shut down the city’s wastewater facilities due to storm surge. This particular lift station pumps sewage from the downtown St. Pete waterfront.
The goal is for folks downtown to still be able to use their toilets and shower even as storm surge rises.
What else do leaders have planned?
The city also committed $2 million to floodproof sewage pipes, tanks and structures at the facility with protective coating.
