After Hurricane Milton forced the City of St. Petersburg to shut down two major sewer treatment plants proactively, officials have taken steps to strengthen the city’s wastewater infrastructure against future storms.

The city has approved a $600,000 investment to purchase an AquaFence to safeguard a critical lift station near Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Pete. This station handles approximately 7 million gallons of wastewater daily, pumping it to the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility for treatment.

The AquaFence, a deployable barrier standing about 9 feet high, is designed to protect the station from storm surges. It features watertight gaskets that can be securely installed on hard pavement, enclosing the building that houses the station’s pumping system.

According to John Palenchar, the city’s water resources director, the idea for the AquaFence came from Tampa General Hospital, which successfully deployed a similar system during the last hurricane season. “We’re trying to get ahead of it,” Palenchar said. “Nothing works in every situation, but we aim to use the best solutions available.”

The downtown lift station currently relies on three layers of emergency backup power. However, a significant storm surge could overwhelm the system, potentially causing widespread disruptions for residents. To prevent this, the city has prioritized purchasing the AquaFence, aiming to have it ready by June, when hurricane season begins.

“It takes about four months to manufacture these systems,” Palenchar explained. “We wanted to make sure we secured it in time for next hurricane season.”

In addition to the AquaFence, the city plans to invest $2 million to enhance storm readiness at the Southwest and Northeast water reclamation facilities. This funding will be used to install watertight doors, stop logs, and waterproof coatings to protect critical buildings in these facilities.

The measures are part of a broader effort to ensure St. Pete’s wastewater system can withstand increasingly severe weather events.

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(Image credit: AquaFence)