Riviera Beach taps disaster fund for $2M to fix failing pipes

• Crumbling and dilapidated sewer pipes worsened the flooding, causing sewage backups and rendering toilets inoperable in some areas.
• Officials acknowledge that years of neglect have left the city's infrastructure in poor condition, requiring extensive and costly repairs.

Riviera Beach is pulling $2 million from its major disaster fund to cope with recent flooding problems the city's utilities director said were worsened in some areas by crumbling pipes.

The city declared a state of emergency on Nov. 2, as it was getting pummeled by rains that would eventually drop more than 20 inches on the area in a three-day period. City roadways, communities and its sewage system were swamped, resulting in evacuations and, in some subdivisions, rendering toilets inoperable.

Hardest hit was Lone Pine Estates, the subdivision lining a golf course on North Military Trail that was closed in 2023. Flooding has long been a source of frustration in Lone Pine Estates, and concerns about flooding spurred residents to oppose a housing project that had been proposed on the site of the former golf course.

Riviera Beach Police Department Maj. Glen Meyer told city council members on Nov. 4 that 100 Lone Pine residents were evacuated from the community because of flooding.

Meyer gave a wide-ranging update on efforts to combat the flooding. As he spoke, residents took to social media to detail their travails.

"I live in Lone Pine and the center is still under water," one woman wrote. "We can't get to Canterbury (Drive) without walking in sewer water."

Another wrote: "I live on Canterbury North and from where the water line is I would have to wade through waist high or more unsafe water to get to my mailbox."

Yet another resident said the city knew there were drainage problems in the Lone Pine area.

"You have known about our flooding issues for years and have done nothing!" the resident wrote. "Let's build a park and pave our streets instead of fixing the infrastructure. You've known! You've ignored! This is on You!"

How bad is Riviera Beach's drainage and sewage system?

Utilities Director Josh Niemann said part of the problem was that floodwater seeped into the city's sewer system, putting a strain on pipes that were, in some cases, in a state of dilapidation and disrepair.

He explained that, as utilities workers explored one problematic sewer pipe, they discovered that an attempt had been made to protect it by putting what Niemann estimated to be 20 tons of concrete over it. That led to delays in getting to it and replacing it in the aftermath of the recent flooding, he said.

Niemann detailed how, before the recent flooding, a crew found that another sewage pipe, this one on Blue Heron Boulevard, "was in significant decay — so much so that, when we were doing exploratory digging, just trying to find it with probing rods, the probing rod penetrated the pipe and so we are in the process of replacing that."

City Councilman Glen Spiritis seemed unsurprised.

"So, basically, our lines are in horrible shape, correct?" he asked Niemann. "One line was obviously repaired in the wrong manner. Should have been replaced, not encased in 20 tons of concrete. These lines are all falling apart, is that correct?"

Niemann would not go that far.

"To the extent possible, in this specific area, yes sir," he said. "It is found throughout the city, but there's also a lot of things that have been done in the past 20 years that are moving in the right direction in fixing some of this stuff. I wouldn't categorically say everything. But there is a lot."

Spiritis sought to sum up the situation.

"This is years and years of neglect, and, clearly, we're going to have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to start replacing these pipes if we want to keep this city moving forward with respect to water and sewer," he said.

"That's correct," Niemann replied.

Getting help now and down the road

Riviera Beach has already broken ground on a $400 million water treatment facility that would include some new water lines. Paying for an even more extensive upgrade would be a challenge in a city that is already asking residents and businesses to pay sharply more for water and sewer services and has already gone into the bond market to pay for new parks facilities, a new police department headquarters and a new fire station.

For now, the focus is on pumping away the floodwater, reopening local roads that are still closed and making sure residents in affected areas know how to get help.

City officials urged residents to call 877-257-2374 to get answers to questions about services and assistance.

The City Council voted unanimously to pull $2 million from the city's disaster fund after adding an amendment that any flood relief money the city receives from the state or federal government be used to replenish the fund.

Riviera Beach is covered in the state of emergency Florida officials issued in the wake of the floods. That declaration will eventually open a path of assistance for residents, city officials said.

Meanwhile, food and water distribution sites were set up in the Lone Pine community on Canterbury Drive South and Timber Run East, Meyer said.

The police major said he and his colleagues in the city, many of whom have worked long hours since the flooding began, will not abandon residents during this difficult time.

"We're going to be advocates for our community," he said. "We love our residents. We love our community. We've been here since Day One. We haven't gone home. We're not going home until the job is finished. We stand behind our residents, and we'll do anything it takes to get the job done."

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education and Riviera Beach development for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our work; subscribe today.