MIAMI – About 120,000 gallons of wastewater poured into Biscayne Bay prompting a no-swim advisory, the Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department announced on Friday.
The leak happened while crews tested a 16-inch wastewater pipe near 100 Chopin Plaza in downtown Miami, the Miami-Dade County statement said. Advocates from Miami Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization, said they had warned officials about this leaking pipe before.
Witnesses shared videos of Friday morning’s leak with Miami Waterkeeper and advocates reported the sewage to authorities.
Officials are asking the public to avoid water recreational activities in areas of Biscayne Bay including Fisher Island Beach, Hobie Beach, Virginia Key Beach, and South Beach.
The boundaries of the advisory are MacArthur Causeway to the north, Rickenbacker Causeway to the south, Southpointe Park to the east, and the mainland as the western boundary.
The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County and the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources are testing the posted waters and the advisory remains in effect until two consecutive days of clear testing occur.
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