Sanibel Island continues various efforts to return to normal on Friday two days after Hurricane Milton caused a variety of impacts on Lee County’s most famous barrier island.
Here is the latest:
What is the status of Sanibel’s wastewater system?
The island’s wastewater system is currently inoperable due to extensive damage to the electrical transmission lines. Although the sewer plant itself is functioning on a backup generator, the distribution system relies on power from LCEC, which is still offline, officials shared in the conference Friday.
Until power is restored, the City strongly urged residents to avoid using water in their homes or businesses to prevent sewage backups. This includes refraining from showering, flushing toilets and running appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. Officials advised residents to use water sparingly for outdoor cleaning purposes only, filling buckets and disposing of the water outside. The Island Water Association is actively monitoring water usage and is turning off services to homes with significant usage peaks to conserve the limited water supply.