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Operation Clean Water focuses City operations on any and all efforts to improve the water quality of the Park View Canal. While the most recent water quality study shows significant improvements from the actions taken over the past few years, there are many more strategies underway. Park View Canal is an angled canal within the Tatum Waterway, and has limited natural flushing to dilute pollution associated with urban runoff from the 81-acre North Beach watershed. To learn more about water quality, visit: www.mbrisingabove.com/pvc.

The City has already lined the public sanitary sewer lines and rehabilitated or replaced potential infrastructure sources. Studies have pointed to stormwater containing runoff as the most significant source of pollution. Ongoing efforts include more frequent street sweepings, improved stormwater management and storm drain cleaning. Additional innovative measures such as ultraviolet light disinfection and downstream defenders are being installed to reduce bacteria and pollution in stormwater runoff. Below is an update on Operation Clean Water:

Frequent Water Sampling and Testing

The City of Miami Beach conducts water quality sampling once a month at multiple locations around Miami Beach, including the kayak launch along Park View Canal. In addition to the ongoing sampling efforts, the City has partnered with water quality experts from the University of Miami (UM) to conduct studies to further understand the water quality concerns.

A significant finding from these tests has been the drop in enterococci (bacteria) levels between storm events compared to year-on-year samples, indicating that groundwater is not the primary source. Rather, it was determined that the stormwater runoff is the largest contributor to the bacteria levels. These findings helped develop additional solutions described below.

Biscayne Beach Elementary School

The City has been coordinating with the Miami-Dade School Board to secure access for closed circuit television (CCTV) assessment inspection and lining rehabilitation of private laterals within Biscayne Beach Elementary School. During the UM Parkview Assessment Phase II, two hot spots were identified in groundwater sampling and one at the stormwater outfall of Biscayne Beach Elementary School. The goal is to rehabilitate the outdated cast iron material by lining the lateral to eliminate exfiltration into the ground water and stormwater system within the school grounds. The assessment and rehabilitation work is expected to begin in mid-August 2025, pending approval of the Access Agreement by the School Board.

These hot spots pose no risk to the day-to-day operations of the school; the school's drinking water supply is provided and treated by Miami-Dade County and remains separated from the groundwater and other systems.

Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Pilot

Miami Beach has partnered with UM to conduct a pilot study using UV Sterilizers to help kill bacteria in stormwater runoff by sterilizing the street surfaces with the lights. Based off UM's findings in previous studies, stormwater runoff consistently contains very high levels of the enterococci bacteria.

A proposal to use UV sterilizing lights to neutralize the bacteria has been submitted; studies have found the UV light will kill the bacteria and does so without harming or contaminating the surrounding environment.

Representatives across different departments will assist UM with pre- and post-treatment sampling in order to assess the efficacy of the treatment. The pilot is expected to begin soon after final agreement is approved. 

Street Sanitation

Crews have continued the hand and mechanical sweeping on alternate days. To support these efforts, Alternate Side Parking has been reimplemented on 67 to 73 streets, between Harding Avenue and Indian Creek Drive, in North Beach to improve the street sweepers' accessibility.

On selected days between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. vehicles parked along the selected streets are required to relocate so the street sweepers have access to the curb for the entire length of the block. The streets and times were selected to minimize impacts on residents and facilitate the street sweepers' schedules. Citations will be issued to vehicles parked along the route to remind residents about parking restrictions and encourage compliance. For now, the citations do not carry a fine.

Stormwater Management

The City has increased the routine maintenance on stormwater structures between 72 and 77 streets. The stormwater catch basins have been cleaned twice since March of this year, and there are three additional cleanings scheduled by the end of this year. This is four times more than mandated by NPDES permit and a large increase from the previous cleanings of twice a year.

Plans include installing seven Downstream Defenders water quality devices to capture sediments, oils and floatable debris before it enters the canal and bay. The Downstream Defenders project are currently in the final stages of design and permitting with Miami-Dade County Environmental Resources Management, with construction planned to begin first quarter of 2026. The Downstream Defenders are an additional tool to remove debris and pollution that passes through the stormwater catch basin.

Other efforts under consideration are customized storm drain markers to increase awareness that dumping into the storm drains further degrades and endangers the water quality of the Biscayne Bay and is strictly prohibited. Below are sample images from other municipalities:

Community Engagement Efforts

Operation Clean Water involves multiple programs to improve and protect water quality; community engagement and support is important to success of these programs. Through a series of campaigns and public outreach efforts, the city keeps residents and business owners informed and up to date about the ongoing programs to protect the watershed and how they can support and contribute to these efforts. These campaigns have included flyers being mailed and posted in the neighborhoods, email and social media posts. Below is a summary of different campaigns.

Don’t Grease the Streets

Another source of pollution comes from improper waste disposal such as rinsing off kitchen grease mats and equipment in the streets and alleys which will drain to the Bay. The city has created a flyer that has been distributed locally to promote proper cleaning and disposal, in addition to increased monitoring of the alleyways to stop violations.

F.R.O.G. Can Clog

To increase awareness of proper waste disposal of Fats, Rags, Oils, and Grease the city has started a campaign 'F.R.O.G. Can Clog'; items that can clog and damage the sewer drains if not disposed properly causing sewer overflows into the streets and into the storm drains, and consequently to the Bay.

Don’t be Ruff On The Bay

Unfortunately, animal waste continues to be a source of pollution. To make it as easy as possible for pet owners to pick up their dogs, there are now 56 pet waste stations with new signage to promote proper disposal, as well as additional trash bins the area. 

Homeless Outreach

The Homeless Outreach Services Division regularly conducts street outreach to connect individuals experiencing homelessness in the City of Miami Beach with available services and support. In response to Operation Clean Water, the Homeless Outreach Services Team has been visiting the Park View area twice a day, once in the morning and again late at night to look for and engage with any person that may need assistance.

If you encounter someone in need of homeless services or wish to report a related concern, please contact the City’s Homeless Outreach Services Division at 305.604.4663 or email homeless@miamibeachfl.gov. 

Funding Appropriations

The City of Miami Beach is committed to improving the water quality of Biscayne Bay. Below is a summary of the funds spent and planned for Operation Clean Water.

• $70,000 – Smoke testing and sample analysis. Complete.
• $122,000 – Identify potential sources of pollution and recommendations (Phase I Study). Complete.
• $75,000 – Stormwater, groundwater and further hot spot analysis (Phase II Study). Complete.
• $640,000 – Phase 1 Park View Sewer Trenchless Rehabilitation upgrades and sewer force main air release valve replacements. Complete.
• $2.5 million – Prior funding Phase II North Beach and Park View Extended Area project. Included closed-circuit television studies, lining of sewer pipes from 73rd to 76th Streets, as well as the rehabilitation of manholes wherever needed, all five (5) North Beach pump station wet well rehabilitations. Complete.
• $2.5 million – Dredging planning, design, and potential construction. Underway.
• $2.2 million – Design, permitting and construction of the North Beach Downstream Defenders Water Quality devices to retrofit existing gravity stormwater.
• $10,000 ­– UV disinfectant pilot program. Underway.
• $10,000 – Onsite assessors identifying sources and alerts. Underway.
• $10 million – North Beach Town Center/North Shore D Grant funding for design and permitting that will include long-term water quality improvements. Underway.

Contact

For more information, please contact the North Beach Neighborhood Affairs Coordinator, Nicholas Levy at, nicholaslevy@miamibeachfl.gov.

To learn more about the city’s projects and innovative initiatives, visit www.miamibeachfl.gov/NAD.

To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (5-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) (voice), select 1 (English) or 2 (Spanish) and leave a message with your request. TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service). You can also make requests online at www.miamibeachfl.gov/ada by selecting ADA request.