The city of Fort Lauderdale has put out an advisory to steer clear of George English Lake and nearby waterways, thanks to a sewage spill that went from bad to worse. According to a report by WSVN, the spill occurred when efforts to repair a damaged pipe turned awry, leading to untreated waste entering storm drains and ultimately the lake.
Officials from the city revealed that a truck driver meant to transfer sewage to a different pipe but mistakenly opened up the wrong manhole. Alan Dodd, director of Public Works, told WSVN, "We have a contractor who is coming, they’ll be using chemicals agents to clean up the materials, so they’ll be going on the shoreline and using other methods to clean it up, Vactor trucks, to get as much out of the waterways as possible."
Recreational water activities like swimming, fishing, jet-skiing, and kayaking are all off-limits in the affected areas until further notice. These restrictions apply to the water north of NE 12th Street, south of Sunrise Boulevard, west of NE 20th Avenue, and east of Bayview Drive, as detailed in a post from Fort Lauderdale City News on X.
A precautionary waterway advisory is in effect for George English Lake and a portion of the Middle River. Avoid swimming, fishing or other water activities in the area. More info: 🔗 https://t.co/jCYuGXJuwb pic.twitter.com/OYZn8xFhlW
— City of Fort Lauderdale (@FTLCityNews) February 16, 2024
Local businesses are feeling the pinch, with one paddleboard and kayak rental company already out a grand because of the spill. Lauren Ridley, who runs Blue Moon Adventures, expressed her frustration to WSVN, "I already refunded over $1,000 for today. We’ve been having probably the worst winter for weather, and it’s our first good weekend. The beach is actually full of people, and now we can't operate," she explained.
Concerned residents and visitors will have to wait for the all-clear from the city. The lake and affected waterways will only reopen to the public once officials are confident that have conducted thorough testing and can ensure there is no harmful bacteria lingering. Until then, those looking for water fun will need to find alternative spots.
