Residents told the City Council on Sept. 16 that recurring sewer backups on Florida Park Drive had prompted neighbors to install PEP (pressure effluent pump) tanks and questioned whether the city was merely “patching” the system rather than making larger repairs.

Steve Carr, who said he has lived on Florida Park Drive for more than 25 years, described neighbors installing PEP tanks after repeated problems and said the piecemeal approach risks continually increasing reliance on temporary fixes. Carr said his research indicates there are more than 17,000 PEP tanks in Palm Coast and warned that large numbers of PEPs can contribute to municipal sewer system failures, particularly in low‑lying or flood‑prone areas.

Council and staff responses said PEP tanks were typically a design decision by developers in the 1960s and 1970s, used in lower‑lying parts of the city where gravity‑fed systems were infeasible. Council member Miller said PEP systems include an electric pump that sends effluent to a lift station; newer developments, Miller said, are using gravity‑fed systems or self‑contained designs instead of PEPs. City staff told Carr they would follow up directly and named staff members for him to contact.

The council did not take a formal vote on the issue; instead staff were directed to speak with the resident and field staff (Brian and others were named) to investigate the specific failures and whether repairs or system changes are needed. City staff and council members also noted that stormwater infiltration and high groundwater can overload wastewater systems and that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is focused on nutrient reduction and water quality rules that influence decisions to move away from septic systems in some areas.

No immediate capital appropriation was made at the meeting. Staff committed to follow up with Mr. Carr and provide details about repairs and system plans for that neighborhood.