The City of St. Petersburg is allocating $7 million to upgrade two wastewater treatment facilities after severe flooding during the 2024 hurricane season forced their shutdowns.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton inundated the Maximo Moorings neighborhood in South St. Pete, leading to the closure of the Southwest Wastewater Treatment Facility. Floodwaters in the area were contaminated with sewage.

“It was pretty brown,” local resident Kris Johnson, told WTVT, who experienced both storms firsthand.

Many homeowners believe the facility contributed to the flooding caused by the back-to-back hurricanes.

“I know a lot of people who had one to two feet of water inside their homes, especially in Maximo, which is closer to the treatment plant,” Johnson added.

To address these concerns, the city council approved $3.5 million for flood protection and resiliency improvements at the Southwest facility. Officials acknowledged the site’s vulnerability, stating, “Because of its location, sea level rise and storm surge could significantly impact the operation and long-term functionality of the facility.”

An additional $3.5 million will go toward the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Facility, which leaked a million gallons of sewage after Hurricane Helene. Both facilities lost power during the storms, exacerbating the crisis.

This funding is part of the city’s broader effort to strengthen critical infrastructure against climate-related disasters.

Johnson emphasized the need for proactive measures.

“Hurricanes will keep coming, so it’s better to be prepared. Any upgrade—whether for electricity or sewage—is a positive step for the neighborhood. I love living here, and the more improvements they make, the better,” he explained to WTVT.

The Northeast facility was already undergoing a $70 million renovation, but post-hurricane assessments revealed the need for additional investments.

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(Image credit: WTVT)

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