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Sewage Line Break Dumps Effluent Into Fish Hawk Creek

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

Hillsborough County officials are asking residents of the FishHawk Ranch area to stay away from the water after a pipe burst this afternoon and spilled about 10,000 gallons of sewage into a creek and a nearby retention pond.

The broken line, located about a mile west of Osprey Ridge Drive, has been isolated from the rest of the system and is not leaking additional sewage, county spokesman Willie Puz said.

About 5,000 gallons spilled into Fish Hawk Creek and another 5,000 gallons flowed into a nearby retention pond, said Michelle Van Dyke, spokeswoman for the county's water resource services.

Crews are working to clear the affected area and repairs to the pipeline will be made on Wednesday, Puz said.

Signs have been posted, state environmental agencies have been contacted and water resources services staff will be taking samples and monitoring the area, Puz said.

Van Dyke said she expects minor environmental effects. The 10,000-gallon spill is smaller than the volume of an average swimming pool, which is about 12,000 gallons, Van Dyke said.

Officials are urging residents to not have any contact with the water in the creek or where the creek empties into the Alafia River for the next several days, Puz said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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