St. Pete Beach approves $2 million contract to inspect and clean aging sewer system after elevated salt readings

The St. Pete Beach City Commission on Monday authorized a contract with Roland Incorporated not to exceed $2,000,000 per year to perform sewer cleaning and inspections across the city.

Public Services Director Camden Mills told the commission the vote follows a multi‑year inflow and infiltration (I&I) program and recent sampling by the City of St. Petersburg that identified elevated chloride levels in parts of the St. Pete Beach collection system. “The system was constructed from 1954 to 1957, and a large majority of the original infrastructure from that project is still currently in place today,” Mills said.

Why it matters: elevated chloride levels indicate saltwater intrusion into sanitary sewers, which can reduce treatment efficiency and limit downstream reuse of treated water. The City of St. Petersburg’s code of ordinances sets an average daily chloride limit of 1,350 milligrams per liter for wastewater it accepts; St. Pete Beach staff reported some locations exceeded that level.

What staff presented: Mills summarized prior engineering work and the city’s investment…