Naples, Fla., Plans to Remove Storm Water Pipes From Beaches

The city of Naples, Fla., announced plans to remove storm water outfalls from the city’s beaches. The approved plan will remove the six southernmost outfalls, extend one of the remaining outfalls farther into the Gulf of Mexico and build a pump station.

According to Naples Daily News, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) notified the city in 2011 that it would not issue any more beach renourishment permits until officials came up with a plan to remove outfalls. A city staff report found that the outfalls negatively affect Gulf water quality, accelerate beach erosion, require frequent maintenance, exacerbate neighborhood flooding and are detrimental to the environment, particularly sea turtle nesting. In response, the city hired AECOM Technical Services in 2013 to scope out potential solutions to the storm water system.

“We’ve been studying the option, the opportunities and the challenges for doing something that would not just achieve the goal of what the DEP wants, but also the community’s goal of trying to reduce flooding and beach erosion and improve water quality and the environment, particularly for sea turtle nesting,” said Gregg Strakaluse, street and stormwater department director.

The project will build a deep ocean outfall 1,000 ft off the shore and a pump station to  clean storm water before it enters the Gulf, according to NBC News.

“This project is probably one of the most important storm water projects in the history of Naples,” Strakaluse said.

The project is estimated to cost more than $10 million and the city hopes to begin construction in 2020.