Leesburg wastewater plant breach spills into Lake Griffin

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Hurricane Milton’s heavy rains led to a significant breach at a Leesburg wastewater treatment plant, forcing nearly two million gallons of wastewater into a nearby canal that flows into Lake Griffin.

City officials reported that the plant, overwhelmed by the storm, has since stabilized.

Leesburg City Manager Al Minner explained that the sheer volume of rainwater tripled the plant's capacity, leading to the spill.

"The plant was inundated with water, and wastewater literally came out of the headwall," Minner said.

Despite the breach, he noted that the wastewater was diluted by Lake Griffin's billions of gallons of water, mitigating the potential impact.

Residents like Nicki Wild and Walter Haddix, who live near the plant, witnessed the storm's intensity.

"It rained so hard," Haddix said, adding that he wasn’t surprised by the flooding.

Other residents expressed concerns about the environmental effects.

"It’s something that shouldn’t happen. Look at the wildlife out here. They shouldn’t have to live in that," Dan Barcomb said.

The spill was self-reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the city is working to prevent future incidents.

Minner indicated that the DEP would likely collaborate with Leesburg officials to assess the breach and recommend improvements.

While the city acknowledges the overflow, they emphasized that it was not a continuous flow, reducing the potential damage.

Officials plan to review the plant's infrastructure and response measures to prevent similar events in the future.