Town aims to upgrade resiliency of lift stations on island

The town of Longboat Key is looking to upgrade its resiliency in lift station infrastructure after many of the panels at those stations failed during hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Hurricane Helene in particular caused a significant amount of flooding from storm surge across the entire island. This flooding resulted in about $800,000 in damages to the lift stations’ electrical panels. 

The town's wastewater system on the island is operated by 47 lift stations scattered throughout the island that control the flow of wastewater from the island to the mainland.

At those lift stations are electrical control panels that manage the amount of wastewater within that lift station. Currently, the control panels are fixed about one to two feet off of the ground.

According to Public Works Director Charlie Mopps, the panels need to be low enough so department workers can easily service and repair the panels — that’s why the panels aren’t installed multiple feet off the ground. 

But the town’s public works department is now seeking a state appropriation of $950,000 to upgrade the control panels by putting them on a device that could lift them higher off the ground in the event of an impending storm.

“Having them on a pole that can be elevated in the event of a possible storm, it allows the components to then still be serviceable,” Mopps said.

Putting the panels on a moveable extension could save the panels from being flooded by storm surge events in the future. Then, if those panels are saved, it could mean wastewater services coming back online for residents waiting to enter after hurricanes pass. 

Mopps said at a Jan. 21 commission workshop the department is also working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up a site inspection for the damages to the panels experienced during Helene and Milton. 

The town will also seek a $1.5 million state appropriation to help with the cost of the necessary subaqueous force main replacement project, which is expected to cost around $30 million. 

If the state appropriations are granted, the town will be notified by July 1.