UPDATE: Wastewater Main Ruptured in Construction Accident, Crews Work To Stabilize Ruptured Main

By  //  November 16, 2016

'estimating repairs will be completed by midnight tonight'

ity of Cocoa Beach is the only area on the barrier island that is not open for evacuees to return
Crews are working to stabilize the hole around the ruptured wastewater main. Once the sides are stabilized, they will connect a pump and will begin to divert the wastewater into a nearby stormwater retention pond, according to public information officer Cheryl Mall, of the City of Melbourne.

**UPDATE**BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Crews are working to stabilize the hole around the ruptured wastewater main. Once the sides are stabilized, they will connect a pump and will begin to divert the wastewater into a nearby stormwater retention pond, according to public information officer Cheryl Mall, for the City of Melbourne.

When the hole is clear, they will then be able to begin repairs to the wastewater main.

The wastewater that goes into the stormwater pond will be removed and taken to the treatment plant.

“We are estimating repairs will be completed by midnight tonight, but there are a number of unknown factors that could affect this timeline,” said Mall.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

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BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Work is underway to repair a 16-inch wastewater force main under the Eau Gallie River after it was damaged by a City of Melbourne contractor drilling under the river to install a new 20-inch reclaimed water main.

The damage occurred on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. when the contractor accidentally hit the 16-inch wastewater force main in the same location, causing wastewater to spill from the rupture, according to Cheryl Mall, Public Information Officer
for the City of Melbourne.

“The contractor and City of Melbourne personnel worked through the night to contain the flow of wastewater and attempted to repair the wastewater main, but because it was located approximately 11 feet underground, a larger piece of equipment was needed than was available last night,” said Mall.

“The required equipment was delivered this morning, and work is again underway to complete the repair.”

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Due to the location of the break along the bank on the south side of the Eau Gallie River, just east of the Apollo Boulevard bridge, wastewater has been entering the Eau Gallie River intermittently since the damage occurred.

“We do not currently have an estimate of the amount of wastewater that has spilled into the river,” said Mall.

City staff are in contact with Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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