Additional Repair Work Slated Overnight For Sewer Pipeline

HOLLYWOOD (CBS4)-  Repair work on the Taft Street sewer pipeline will continue into the overnight hours Saturday evening and Sunday morning, according to the city.

After days of raw sewage spewing from a ruptured four foot wide sewage line, crews said they finally fixed the breach and pout the line back in service Friday afternoon, leaving behind a massive stench and a nasty clean-up job.

Although Friday's repairs to the ruptured section of the pipe were completed, as the line was put back into service a small, additional leak just east of the rupture site was detected.

A valve needed to repair the pipe arrived on Thursday and crews worked through the night and into Friday to complete the repairs. The sewage line break took place Wednesday morning near Taft Street between Park Road and Interstate 95.

The additional leak will be repaired beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday night.

The sewer main is the primary line connecting west Hollywood, eastern Pembroke Pines and parts of southern Broward County to the Southern Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hollywood.

According to the city, the line is currently operational and wastewater is being transported through the line to the plant for normal treatment.

Clean-up of the areas affected by the sewer line rupture is underway.  Everglades Waste Removal Services is on site with crews working to clean the Greater Hollywood YMCA and yards and outbuildings of 24 residences affected by the spill.

The city said that crews are working to clean and aerate the C-10 canal and adjacent finger canals.  Additionally, water testing to monitor water quality in the nearby C-10 canal and adjacent finger canals continues with results being forwarded to the FDEP and Broward County Department of Development & Environmental Review.

A "No Fishing/ No Swimming/ No Wading" advisory remains in effect for the canal.

The city said, "Information on these clean-up and mitigation efforts has been distributed door-to-door to residents who live along the canal," in a press release Saturday.

Residents are advised to avoid contact with untreated sewage or sewage residue. Additionally, those who have pets should not allow their pets out in yards or areas where there is sewage residue.

Taft Street between N. 32nd Court and the access road to the Yellow Green Farmer's Market remains closed to through traffic. But the Farmer's Market is open for business, and customers can access the market from the east.

According to the city, over the past few days, they saw a reduction of wastewater flow into the line indicating the public requests to residents to limit their production of wastewater combined with assistance from both Pembroke Pines and Broward County to divert wastewater, made a difference.

The city is once again requesting the public's assistance in reducing flows into the system from approximately 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Those who live west of I-95 in Hollywood, in eastern Pembroke Pines and parts of southern Broward County can assist repair efforts by "limiting long showers, and avoiding dishwashing or laundry during these hours."

Drinking water continues to be unaffected by the sewer line repair work.

The city set up a hotline for residents who need assistance. The number is (954) 921-3046.