Chairman Monestime, joined by Mayor Gimenez, Commissioner Jordan and Director Sola, host groundbreaking ceremony for a 72-inch Wastewater Line Replacement Project
From left: State Representative Barbara Watson, Councilman Frantz Pierre, Chairman Jean Monestime, Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan, and Director Sola.
Photo by Michael Fullana/Miami-Dade County
MIAMI-DADE, FL – Chairman Jean Monestime joined Mayor Carlos Gimenez, District 1 Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan and Water and Sewer Department Director Lester Sola hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 29 for a 72-inch Wastewater Line Replacement Project. Florida State Representative Barbara Watson and North Miami Beach Councilman Frantz Pierre were in attendance. The event took place at Oak Grove Park in northeast Miami.
“This 72-inch Wastewater Line Replacement Project will help alleviate many of the issues faced by the residents of both Districts 1 and 2,” Chairman Monestime said. “The replacement of this wastewater line will improve service reliability in the North Dade area and protect our coastal environment. Having a sustainable and safe sanitary sewer system that will function for decades to come will help build a more sustainable county and improve the environment.”
The new 72-inch wastewater line will be installed along NE 159 Street from NE 9 Avenue to NW 6 Avenue, along NW 6 Avenue from NW 159 Street to Biscayne Canal then along the Biscayne Canal from NW 6 Avenue to NW 17 Avenue.
“Throughout Miami-Dade County, an estimated $13.5 billion is being invested in our water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure that the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department is able to continue providing high quality drinking water and wastewater services,” Mayor Gimenez said. “This is the pipe that ruptured in 2010 and impacted the canals in the area; the replacement of this pipeline will ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
This project came out of a consent decree entered into in May 2013 between the County, the state and the federal governments for improvements to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment system.
“Maintaining our public water and wastewater infrastructure is critical to preventing system backups and break downs,” said Commissioner Barbara Jordan. “We cannot afford to go a day without water and wastewater services, and the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department is taking steps to ensure that our infrastructure is updated and provides for increased sustainability.”
“In order to continue to fulfill the department’s vision of continuous delivery of high quality drinking water and wastewater services in compliance with all regulatory requirements, system upgrades such as this are necessary,” Water and Sewer Department Director Lester Sola said. “We are dedicated to investing in our water and wastewater systems for the benefit of our children, grandchildren and future generations that will look back and ask what we did to help improve their lives.”