For years, Tampa Bay communities have lived with a polluted Bay. Because of aging infrastructure, poor decisions, climate change and extreme weather events, sewage frequently flows directly into our water and onto our beaches.Take action now to stop the sewage crisis!Most recently, Hurricane Hermine overwhelmed the sewage systems of St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater, resulting in the dumping of roughly 240 million gallons of sewage into the Bay and other waters. Take action now to protect the Bay from sewage!Tampa Bay Cities are now negotiating with the state to plan how future sewage disasters will be avoided. While some draft plans have been released, it does not seem that the public is going to be involved in these discussions.The public must have a voice in these conversations. Our neighborhoods, beaches and waters are on the line. Tell your mayors, city council, and DEP that you want your voice heard! Take action now to demand that Consent Decree negotiations are transparent and include the public.Let’s make sure that the cities and state know that sewage should not end up in our Bay!Matt Rota is GRN’s Senior Policy Director
