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Residents press Melbourne to fix 'screeching' water-pump noise; staff says short- and long-term fixes planned
Summary
Residents described constant high-frequency noise from upgraded water booster pumps — saying it disrupts sleep and health — and urged the city to require enclosures, plantings or other mitigations. Staff said it has quotes and has commissioned a study; formal action will return to council.
Residents who live near recently upgraded water booster pumps urged the Melbourne City Council on Feb. 24 to act after months of what they described as a continuous, high-pitched “screeching” noise.
At a public-comment block dominated by neighbors, Alan Block said the noise had driven him and others to contact media and seek a technical fix, naming a vendor, Acoustibloc, as one possible solution. “We had no choice but to reach out to FOX 35,” Block said, and described neighbors’ pain and disrupted daily life.
Catherine Creedy, who said she lives very near the facility in Indian Harbour Beach, pressed for measurement and accountability: “What is the decibel level and how has it changed since the new facility was built? … It sounds like a jet engine spooling up,” she said.
David Carroll and other residents described the sound as continuous, nonvarying and present 24/7, and said even if official decibel readings meet thresholds, the character and persistence of the noise produce physiological stress. “It’s not just intermittent noise … it’s a persistent noise that never stops,” Carroll said.
Several speakers complained that Melbourne Water District had been slow to accept responsibility; council members and staff did not attribute those remarks to a Water District speaker but noted the district has been part of the public back-and-forth.
City staff responded that they are pursuing a multipronged approach. The City Manager said staff already has obtained some quotes for temporary fencing or enclosures and has signed a task order to study more permanent options. “We’ve already received some quotes … I signed a task order last Thursday to do a complete study … and we are also going to install some bushes or trees,” the manager said. Staff described the short-term measures as temporary while the study evaluates long-term mitigation.
Council members thanked residents for raising the issue and signaled support for pursuing both near-term mitigations and a longer technical review. No formal regulatory action or funding appropriation was taken at the meeting; staff said it would return with more detail and proposals at a future meeting.
The city’s next procedural step, as described by staff, is to complete the study and present specific recommendations — including cost estimates — to the council for possible approval.
