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 history. A 2017 I&I study found roughly 62% of gravity conveyance pipes and 59% of manholes needed work; it recommended more than $5.8 million in repairs over five years. A 2023 asset management update recommended additional work; combined, staff said the two reports recommended about $7.9 million in improvements and that the city has invested about $5.2 million to date — leaving an approximate $2.7 million shortfall against those prior estimates.

Mills said the city’s average wastewater flow sent to St. Petersburg has been about 2,620,000 gallons per day and that the city’s contract with St. Petersburg establishes an allocated daily capacity of 2,950,000 gallons per day (with a future allocation to 3,150,000 gallons per day). He described the I&I problem as one of system condition rather than capacity: “The main issues with our I and I is is not so much of a volume or or capacity issue, but more of a condition and of of our system underground and and how it can function,” Mills said.

Planned work and funding: the contract approved Monday covers pipe cleaning, television inspection (televising), specialty cleaning (for roots and grease), manhole inspections, private sewer lateral cleaning and inspection, bypass pumping where needed, and an optional artificial intelligence platform/license. Staff said the contract is structured as a three‑year agreement with two one‑year options and is capped to align with the fiscal year 2026 capital improvement program allocation. Mills told the commission the FY26 CIP includes a proposed I&I project for just over $1.9 million in 2026 and a five‑year program totaling about $3.9 million; staff said the program will be adjusted after the upcoming year’s cleaning and inspection work.

Commission reaction and next steps: several commissioners pressed staff for historical clarity and accountability. Commissioner Robinson said the city had been aware of earlier studies and asked who knew what and when; Robinson asked for a root cause review and greater transparency. Mills and city staff pointed to earlier reports, DEP consent‑order actions from 2014 (released in 2022 by DEP), and earlier investments, and said they will continue biweekly coordination with St. Petersburg and will return with updated priorities after the cleaning and inspection work is complete.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the services agreement with Roland Inc.; roll call votes were recorded as Yes from Commissioner Robinson, Commissioner Reznicki, Commissioner Maldonado, Vice Mayor Marriott and Mayor Petrillo.

What remains to be done: staff said television inspection will identify specific pipe point repairs, pipelining needs and manhole rehabilitation. Repairs and rehabilitation will be handled with separate contracts; the city already has contracts in place for some structural point repairs and manhole work but said it still must procure a pipelining contract.

Public comment: a resident urged broader community awareness of damaged cleanouts and other private lateral issues that can let stormwater into the sanitary system.

Ending: Staff recommended the inspection and cleaning work proceed as approved and said findings will inform a prioritized capital program and any fee/study adjustments needed to fund long‑term maintenance.