Residents of Edgewood in Fort Myers report that raw sewage leaks from manhole covers during heavy rain
Residents of Edgewood in Fort Myers report that raw sewage sprays out of manhole covers during heavy rains. The city can’t help them, they say.
Andrew West, Fort Myers News-Press
200 gallons of raw sewage spilled near the grounds of a north Naples elementary school Wednesday morning, but Collier County Public Schools advises people not to worry.
“A leaking vent valve released approximately 50 gallons of raw sewage into a surface water body,” said a report from the Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday, August 21. “The (vent valve) was isolated to stop the release, temporarily sealed to restore the pipeline to service, and is now scheduled to be replaced.”
The spill occurred at 9480 Airport Road N., the same address as Pelican Marsh Elementary School in north Naples, according to the report.
However, Collier County Public Schools says the incident actually occurred on public land adjacent to Pelican Marsh Elementary School and not on school property.
“This did not occur on the Pelican Marsh Elementary campus,” wrote Chad Oliver, the district’s director of communications. “In fact, I spoke with the school’s principal and facilities manager, and both confirmed that this did not occur on their campus and did not impact school operations in any way.”
Oliver referred further questions to the Collier County Water and Sewer District.
Evelyn Longa, information coordinator for Collier’s Utilities Finance Operations, wrote in an email: “The incident occurred near the access bridge to Pelican Marsh Elementary School and drained into the canal that runs along Airport-Pulling (Road) North.”
The report noted that the wastewater treatment plant would collect surface water samples and post information signs for the public.
