Rule prompts disclosure of Fort Myers oil leak amid sewer concern

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Overflowing sewers throughout Florida during hurricanes Hermine and Matthew have prompted a state investigation.

Gov. Rick Scott cited concern over the safety of drinking water as he ordered the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday to try to find out why the sewers became waterlogged and how to prevent it from happening in the future.

Scott last month called for an emergency rule that requires public notification of pollution hazards, which prompted the disclosure of an overflowing oil-water separator at a Pilot gas station at 6050 Plaza Drive in Fort Myers. Nearly 10 gallons of storm water mixed with an oil/petroleum effluent leaked from the unit Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Environmental Compliance Services firm said.

That discharge didn’t make it into any nearby bodies of water, according to the firm, which said the root cause was recent rains. However, weather has become drier in Southwest Florida since Matthew skirted the area on Friday.

Wastewater utilities will join the DEP in its investigation of sewers across the state, Scott said. No timetable was set for finding a solution to the issue, which prompted boil water notices in at least three east coast counties last week.