Medina: The safety, well-being of our residents are our top priority
BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay is taking action following the failure of a stormwater pipe near Norwood Street NE, which caused soil washouts and exposed water and wastewater utility lines.
The stormwater pipe, already scheduled for replacement, failed under the pressure of the rains leading up to Hurricane Milton’s arrival, and the washout of soil around the stormwater pipe undermined a wastewater pipe that broke from the impact.
This was the largest release of wastewater in our system as a result of Hurricane Milton.
City crews worked throughout the night and repaired the wastewater line in the early morning hours of October 10 as Hurricane Milton was arriving. The City will be conducting emergency repairs to permanently repair the stormwater pipe that failed.
Public Works Operations is monitoring the short-term safety repairs already performed to ensure there is no further erosion. Public Works and Utilities teams are collaborating closely to ensure the repairs address both immediate needs and long-term solutions for the City’s stormwater and utility infrastructure.
“The safety and well-being of our residents are our top priority,” said Mayor Rob Medina.
“This event underscores the importance of maintaining and improving our infrastructure to withstand the challenges posed by weather and erosion. We are committed to ensuring these vital systems continue to serve our community reliably.”
The City of Palm Bay has been investing heavily in repair and replacement projects in both wastewater and stormwater. Current and near future improvements for wastewater include over $32.6 million of approved projects, including upgrades to multiple lift stations, lining pipes to help with infiltration and intrusion of stormwater, installing permanent bypass pumps, and building a new wastewater reclamation facility.
We have also been investing in technology resources to provide advance notice of impending wastewater backups, including smart manhole covers to provide notification of blockages in pipes.
Regarding stormwater infrastructure, we currently have over $18 million allocated to 22 active stormwater projects, including those currently in the design and construction phases.
Additionally, the City has identified 25 future stormwater improvement projects over the next five years, with an estimated cost of $22 million that will be actively pursued.
These projects include pipe lining and replacement, baffle boxes for water quality, replacement box culverts and headwalls, and related infrastructure replacements to strengthen and update our system.
The City of Palm Bay has been and will continue to prioritize infrastructure investments that enhance public safety and improve the quality of life for our residents.
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