An estimated 35,686 gallons of sewage spilled from a Clearwater treatment plant Saturday, reaching Stevenson Creek less than 2,000 feet from the city's manatee protection zone.

A power outage at the Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility knocked out automatic operations around 6:30 a.m., according to a city notice. When crews switched to manual operation, the system failed again, backing up the wastewater collection system and sending sewage through a manhole at Holt Avenue and Russell Street. The city said the overflow lasted roughly 30 minutes, though the notice also said crews did not stop the spill until about 8 a.m. The spill reached a stormwater outfall and entered Stevenson Creek, the city confirmed.

Sewage reached creek near new manatee zone

The spill site sits roughly 300 feet from the creek's shore, as first reported by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The Clearwater City Council gave initial approval Aug. 20 to a year-round slow-speed manatee protection zone covering the 3.2-mile tidal estuary. The ordinance requires Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission review before taking effect. A citizen science survey by the Save the Manatee Club counted more than 200 manatees using the creek over eight months.

Water-quality sampling began Sunday. Results have not been released.

Sherry Day, president of the Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group, said the spill shows the city needs to act on its aging infrastructure. "There have been recurring events, mechanical failures, equipment failures that have occurred and nothing has been done about them," Day told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

Years of spills into Stevenson Creek

The Marshall Street plant has a record of failures. In May 2023, an equipment malfunction sent roughly 500,000 gallons of sewage from the facility, some of which entered Stevenson Creek via a storm sewer, Fox 13 reported. During Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024, about 11.1 million gallons of partially treated sewage flowed into the creek. Weeks later, during Hurricane Milton, an estimated 25 million gallons of partially treated wastewater was discharged into Stevenson Creek, according to WUSF. The city of Clearwater also reported a power-related overflow Aug. 15 at the same Holt Avenue and Russell Street manhole.

Plant slated for closure, but no timeline

Michael Flanigan, Clearwater's public works director, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that funding is the biggest obstacle to decommissioning the Marshall Street plant. The facility is slated for decommissioning, but no timeline has been set. Flanigan said the city is working on upgrades to reduce sewage reaching the creek during overflows, with some improvements expected later this year.

When the City Council approved the manatee protection zone in January, Day told WTSP, "There's more work to do. We're not going away."

The city reported the Sept. 19 spill to the State Watch Office and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Crews vacuumed, raked and washed down the affected area and applied lime. Public awareness signs were posted at sampling locations along the creek.