No Contact with Water Advisory for Key Biscayne and Surrounding Areas

Miami Dade County released an immediate “no contact” with water advisory for Key Biscayne, Virginia Key, and Fisher Island Oct. 12.  

A one-hour power outage at the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department’s Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on Virginia Key, caused an overflow of approximately 100,000 gallons of sewage effluent.  

The effluent, which is fully treated and chlorinated, was released in shrimp lagoon which is the waterway adjacent to the plant.

As a precaution, the advisory was issued regarding all water activity including swimming, fishing, and boating for all beaches around the affected areas. The advisory will remain in effect until two consecutive days of clear testing at the beaches after the plant is repaired.

This may strike residents as a large spill, especially considering the many swim advisories issued recently due to high bacteria levels. However it pales in comparison to the 6 million gallons of partially treated effluent that was released during a 7-hour power outage in September 2017, due to Hurricane Irma.

The press release can be read here. Look for future updates from Key News on this developing story.