Park View Canal Water Quality

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• July 15, 2024 Project Advisory
• July 22, 2024 Project Advisory
• July 26, 2024 Project Advisory
• August 14, 2024 Project Advisory
• December 9, 2024 Project Advisory

Sanitary Sewer Improvements

Public Works completed $640,000 of Phase 1 Park View Sewer Trenchless Rehabilitation upgrades and sewer force main air release valve replacements. In addition, $2.5 million was appropriated for the Phase II of the North Beach and Park View Extended Area project. The project is 90% complete and invoiced. This scope included closed-circuit television studies, lining of sewer pipes from 73rd to 76th Streets, as well as the rehabilitation of manholes wherever needed. In January of 2025, 100% of sewer pipes were lined , including all five (5) North Beach pump station wet well rehabilitations were completed. Public Works also concluded citywide force main leak detection, which results found zero leaks in the system. A new force main system will be installed as part of the $70 Million, 72nd  Street Community Complex project, which includes removing old lines that can become a potential future source of contamination.

Stormwater Treatment

Public Works is adding stormwater treatment to existing stormwater outfalls.  A consulting firm has been contracted for the design of the stormwater treatment system, with hydrodynamic separators planned to reduce trash and sediment discharge. The cost is $2.2 million and construction is expected in late 2026.

The North Beach Town Center/ North Shore D Neighborhood Improvement Project will have significant water quality benefits by moving stormwater outfalls to new locations and meeting today’s water quality requirements. The City received a $10 million grant for the design and permitting of the project, however, construction funding will be needed. The project will replace the stormwater pipe network between 69th and 73rd Streets and include features like injection wells, stormwater pump stations, and filtration systems.

Pursuing Dredging to Increase Flow/ Flushing

Environment and Sustainability is implementing $500,000 funded for dredging design and permitting to improve water exchange rates and remove sediment and marine debris from the canal. The department contracted T.Y. Lin International to develop the construction documents necessary for the project, which involves environmental regulatory agency-required bathymetric and geotechnical surveys within the waterways. Bathymetric and geotechnical surveys are complete and were compiled by the consultant’s engineering team to conduct a flushing analysis. The results of these evaluations are being carefully reviewed for desired water quality outcomes and the appropriate next steps which may include application submittals to the regulatory permitting agencies. Project mobilization is recommended to coincide with the hydrodynamic separator installation to reduce sediment inputs into the canal following dredging.

Above Ground Sanitation

Public Works conducts hand crew and mechanical sweeping three times a week within Park View Island. The Sanitation team hand crew also conducts detail cleaning once a week from 71 street to 75 street. The City also installed five additional doggie bag dispensers in the area of 71 street to 75 street to encourage proper disposal of pet waste and assist with above-ground cleanliness.

Overall, these efforts are expected to improve water quality in the PVC, though major investments in infrastructure are still needed to achieve more significant improvements to be implemented in the North Beach Town Center/ North Shore D project.

How you can Help

• Avoid using fertilizers (banned May 15 to Nov 1), pesticides, or herbicides on your lawns. When it rains, these can flow into the storm drain.
• Don’t blow or rake leaves and lawn clippings into the street that can end up in the storm drain or nearby waterways.
• Keep your trash cans covered with lids.
• Pick up after your pets.
• If you see pollution via discharge report it to 305.673.7625.
• If you see something, say something!

In March 2020, there was a sanitary sewer main break in the parking lot at 72 Street and Collins Avenue. The City immediately issued a "No Contact Advisory," closed the kayak launch, and began water quality testing to identify impacts to the surrounding surface waters. Typically, following a sanitary sewer break, surrounding surface waters will continue to have high bacteria counts for a couple of days following the incident. However, the high bacteria levels found in the vicinity of 73 Street continued for many days following the sewage break repair. Further analysis of historical data collected since 2019 indicates that this waterway has chronically elevated bacteria levels.

Assessment of Enterococci in Groundwater and Stormwater at the Miami Beach Park View Canal

The Assessment of Water Quality conducted by Dr. Solo-Gabriele outlined that rainfall is the main predictor of poor water quality within the canal. The unique characteristics of the waterway limit flushing as a shallow and narrow canal. The primary source of bacteria was identified as waste deposited on surfaces that drain toward the canal from the 81-acre catchment area to the east.

The existing stormwater system in this area is gravity-based and rainwater picks-up pollutants on land, enters catch basins, and exits outfalls untreated. North Beach is densely populated, and the University of Miami team identified many sources contributing to degraded water quality including exotic and feral animal feces, the homeless population, dog waste, litter, and leaking dumpsters in commercial areas. In addition, the aging sanitary sewer system cannot be discounted as it is in need of upgrades and is located near the stormwater conveyance system.  Even though testing led by the Public Works Department has not indicated significant deficiencies such as a major break, there is possibility of leakage not identified through the infrastructure testing due the age of the system and private connections.

Furthermore, the unique characteristics of the waterway as a shallow, narrow, and low-flushing canal within the extension of the Indian Creek Waterway which borders Biscayne Bay have contributed to the exceedance of State standards of fecal bacteria levels.

City staff from several Departments have worked to address many of these findings. Sanitation performs weekly street sweeping and twice daily garbage can collection on Park View Island, Code Compliance performs daily sweeps of the area, and Homeless Outreach and Community Services performs dedicated outreach to homeless individuals.

Infrastructure investments include lining aging wastewater pipes to prevent exfiltration is in progress for Park View Island, replacing air release valves have been replaced in North Beach (in progress), and working to install manhole smart covers to detect rising levels before overflows occur.

In the longer term, plans include upgrading the storm water and sanitary infrastructure.  For stormwater, efforts are focused on treating the first flush and the possibility of providing a treatment system for trash and sediment removal as the city has done in newer generation pump stations. 

In addition to the increased level of services, staff has developed an action plan that combines the study recommendations with actions. City is working to implement the action plan.

Staff has developed an action plan that combines the recommendations from the Assessment of Water Quality conducted by Dr. Solo-Gabriele with short-, mid-, and long-term actions for improvements.

PVC Action Plan Updated on August 2024

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Presentation on the Sources of Enterococci to the Park View Canal in Miami Beach

Dr. Solo-Gabriele Park View Presentation

2023 Presentation on City Update

CMB Park View PPT January 2023