Tropical Storm Emily flooded Lakeland sewer system

Tropical Storm Emily caused Lakeland Water Utilities’ cups to runneth over as a rapid influx of water swamped the sewer system Monday, causing an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 gallons of wastewater to escape containment.

Lakeland reported three spills Tuesday to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The largest spill, between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons, was contained within the Glendale Wastewater Treatment Facility.

“That is not typical. We got a lot of rain, we got it real fast, we got it on already wet soils,” Lakeland Water Utilities Director Bob Conner said. Each spill was contained as the storm continued.

“They didn’t just run until the rain quit,” he said.