Septic to Sewer Conversion Program

#1. City maintains your system

Septic systems need maintenance. On average, a septic tank generally needs to be pumped out every three to five years to prevent backups and overflow. The costs of septic system maintenance must be paid for by the homeowner. With a City sewer system, the maintenance is managed, and all costs are covered by the City.

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#2. Waterways

Malfunctioning septic systems can release bacteria, viruses and chemicals toxic to local waterways. New sewer pump installations have diverted more than 20 billion gallons of raw wastewater to the City’s treatment facilities, thus protecting our canals and waterways from pollution.

#3. Environment

The wastewater from your City sewer system is treated at a City wastewater treatment plant. After treatment, the wastewater may be recycled for irrigation and the remaining waste is used for compost. City wastewater reduces the nutrient inputs that contribute to harmful algae blooms that contaminate our local seagrass and marine life, including fish, marine turtles, marine mammal and shellfish.

#4. Health

Septic systems will eventually fail, allowing untreated sewage to leach into surface waters and private groundwater wells, which some people use for drinking water. Raw sewage from a failed septic system can even make its way to the surface of a yard where puddles of sewage can cause an increased health risk for residents if they come into contact with it. Enteric bacteria health risks associated with insufficiently treated wastewater include upset stomach, diarrhea, eye irritation and skin rashes.

#5. Economy

High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus discolor the water and cause widespread marine mortality because of impacts caused by widespread algal growth. Fishing and water recreational businesses depend on clean waterways for their livelihood.

#6. Recreation

The Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County will issue swimming advisories to alert the public when it may be unsafe to swim. Improperly treated sewage poses the risk of contaminating nearby surface waters, threatening water enthusiasts with various infectious diseases, from eye and ear infections to acute gastrointestinal illness and hepatitis.

A sewer system is composed of a 200-gallon collection tank for sewage and a sewer pump, both of which are buried in your yard. There also is a control panel mounted on the side of your home. Wastewater from your sinks, appliances, showers, toilets, etc. leaves your home and enters the underground collection tank. When enough wastewater has been collected in the tank, the sewer pump will automatically turn on and pump the wastewater into the City’s sewer line.

Caring for your sewer system is easy

• If there is a problem with the sewer system, an alarm will sound from the control panel on the side of your home, and a small red alarm light will light up.
• Report the warning immediately by calling 772-873-6400. A Connection Support Specialist is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and will give you instructions on how to silence the alarm and will dispatch a technician to identify and address issues.
• Restrict/limit all water use until City crews can determine the cause of the alarm. Do not run the washing machine or dishwasher and do not take long showers until the technician completes any necessary repairs.
• If the power goes out, restrict/limit all your water until the power has been restored. When the power comes on again, it is normal for the alarm to go off. Silence the alarm (by hitting the red button on the control panel) and check the alarm panel again after 30 minutes. If the alarm light is still on, call 772-873-6400.

• Gurgling noises: Your plumbing may begin to make gurgling noises when you run the water or flush the toilet. This is a sign that the tank is full and needs to be pumped. The gurgling results from the septic tank being too full of solids and not being able to function properly.
• An awful smell: A terrible odor is one of the most common things you will notice when your septic system is failing. A common odor is the smell of rotten eggs.
• Toilet and drain issues: If the toilet won't flush and the sink or bathtub won’t drain, then your septic tank might be too full.
• Water is backing up: It is common to have septic back-up after or even during heavy rain. Significant rainfall can quickly flood the ground around the soil absorption area (drain field) leaving it saturated, making it impossible for water to flow out of your septic system.
• Standing water: There may be puddles of standing water on your property. The water will likely be smelly and will be a health hazard. Diseases can be spread by waste such as dysentery.

Septic systems have limited life spans and frequently fail, impacting the environment and the community's water quality. When you Connect to Protect, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you are part of the solution to reduce pollution and help protect our waterways.

The City of Port St. Lucie had a vision for the rapidly growing community, even before acquiring its utility assets in 1994, and developed a plan of action to expand the once-limited water and sanitary sewer utility services. The sewer expansion program would ensure that failing septic systems could be taken out of service to avoid further contamination to the shallow water supply and that newly constructed homes and businesses would be required to connect to City sewer. The City’s low-pressure wastewater collection system has grown to be the largest of its kind in the nation and quite possibly, the world. The innovative program also has become a model for other utilities across the globe.

Learn about the City's Water Quality Initiatives

The City reserves the right to alter, cancel or discontinue this program. If an applicant is denied funding, that determination is final and there is no appeals process. It is important to note that the financial information required by this program may be subject to public inspection or disclosure as required by federal, state or local law, including the Florida Public Records Act. Records, including but not limited to, applications, emails, or related documents may be subject to disclosure under Ch. 119, Florida Statutes (Florida’s Public Records Act).