New River clears up after city’s pollution crackdown

Milky plumes of pollution have vanished from the New River, after Fort Lauderdale cracked down on construction companies that allowed dirty water to wash off downtown work sites.

The latest citations, issued in early September, levied fines of $150 to $500 to eight construction companies and developers for violations such as “discharge of offensive fluids into street” and failure to “prevent silt/soil from entering catch basin.”

The inspections came after residents of towers along the river complained of muddy gray or white discharges, largely blamed on the downtown construction boom that’s adding hotel rooms, offices and homes for thousands of residents. And the pollution appeared at a time when the city’s waterways were suffering a series of problems, including algae blooms and a water-line break.

Fort Lauderdale spokesman Chaz Adams said this week there have been no further pollution reports, indicating the success of the city’s inspection effort. Inspectors from Broward County also have started an enforcement effort on one downtown site.

“Our environmental inspectors thoroughly investigate every report of pollution or contamination,” Adams said. “When it was clear that the issue in the New River was being caused by construction sites in downtown, we took immediate action to hold contractors responsible.”

Amber McNamara, who works in high-rises on the river as owner of a housekeeping company, in August reported whitish pulses of muddy water flowing down the river. But the most recent times she’s looked, the discolored, murky water had cleared up.

“So far I haven’t seen anything else,” she said. “It was just the pollution that week. It’s all back to normal, I hope.”

Although not a threat to people, the cloudy water blocks sunlight, making life more difficult for aquatic species.

During visits earlier this month that resulted in citations, city inspectors found that workers had allowed dirt, sand and silt from groundwater to wash into storm sewers, which discharged into the river.

Although the pollution appears to have been cleared up, city inspectors are still making daily visits to construction sites, Adams said.

“The most recent reports indicate that, for the most part, streets, sidewalks, curbs and gutters at the construction sites visited are clean,” he said. “Contractors are using appropriate filter fabric and gutter protection to keep storm drains, catch basins and inlets properly protected.”

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