By james art The city of Hialeah, which has not made significant improvements to its water and sewer system in 20 years, voted unanimously Tuesday to set aside $14.8 million for improvements, from building new pump stations, replacing water pipes, cleaning and restoring manhole covers and repair of the sewage system.
The lack of maintenance has created significant challenges for the city over the years. Pump stations currently operate above the 10-hour daily limit set by Miami-Dade County, making it difficult for businesses and developers to obtain permits to build new projects or improve existing ones.
Kevin Linsky, the public works director who oversees Hialeah’s water and sewer department, said many pump stations covering up to a third of the water and sewer system are operating above the normal limit of 5,000 gallons per mile of pipe. In some cases, these pumping stations are running at up to five times their intended capacity.
The improvements the city approved Tuesday are intended to ensure long-term reliability of the system and save costs for residents. Linsky’s detailed explanation to the city council about the water and sewer problems marked the first time a public works director had publicly addressed the need to maintain and repair the system. Linsky became director of public works in March 2023 after Armando Vidal, who held the position for 25 years, retired.
At the Sept. 10 council meeting before approving the new budget, Lynskey told the council that water and sewer problems have “significantly slowed development.”
The city approved a $162 million improvement budget for the new fiscal year, a significant 25 percent increase over last year. Of that funding, $31.7 million will come from the America’s Rescue Plan, a federal initiative to help economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city also plans to spend $40.4 million over the next five years to repair and improve the water and sewer system.
Hialeah residents pay the fourth highest water and sewer rates in Miami-Dade County, and rates are expected to continue to rise.
Residents pay a rate of $11.50 bimonthly for water use and a rate of $12.50 bimonthly for sewer.
Leaks in the system are one of the factors keeping costs high.
Residents will see another increase in water and sewer charges this year. Miami-Dade County, which provides 50 percent of Hialeah’s water, has raised water rates by 13.6 percent. A 3.3 percent reduction in the county’s wastewater fee will mean Hialeah residents will see a total increase of 10 percent for water and sewer.
To help residents with rising costs, the city has suspended the franchise fee it charges on all water and sewer bills. The fee, initially set at 10% in 2014 under Mayor Carlos Hernández, has been gradually reduced since 2019 and currently stands at 4%.
The city’s aging water and sewer system is overwhelmed, especially in east Hialeah, with frequently leaking pipes that date back to the 1960s. Groundwater intrusion into the system increases the volume that must be processed at treatment plants, resulting in higher costs for area residents.
The county has sent an ultimatum to the city to pay an outstanding $18 million in water and sewer debt. Overdue payments for services are more than 90 days past due, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine Cava said in a July 22 letter to Hialeah Mayor Esteban “Steve” Bovo.
The letter emphasized that all county residents share the financial responsibility for water and sewer services and that Hialeah’s failure to settle its debts “means that customers of the water and sewer district are unfairly burdened with the financial obligation for services provided in Hialeah .”
Hialeah requested two payment extensions. The mayor, who disputes the amount the county claims the city owes, said he won’t authorize the $18 million payment until the city resolves past disagreements over services.