HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Almost two days after a sewage pipe line broke, workers in Hollywood are finally repairing the critical line.
Shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, raw sewage erupted from a 48-inch sewer line located in a neighborhood between Taft Street and Interstate 95.
Sewage from the pipe flooded nearby streets and back yards with human waste.
The hope is to have the line fixed by Friday afternoon. City officials said the line repair must take place in the overnight hours when the wastewater flow is at its lowest. Crews were waiting on a part from Texas and were able to put it in the ground Thursday night. If all goes well, they should begin power washing the streets Friday.
Resident Ed Crosby said the smell is "bad."
"I woke up to it this morning," Crosby said. "My wife had to go out shopping. She couldn't stand it."
"I opened all those windows because the odor. It is impossible to resist inside," said Jose Merchan, who has sewage in his yard.
Traces of human waste blanketed the streets as crews remained focused on fixing the broken line.
"It smells like death. It is horrible. I can't even begin to describe the smell. It is awful," said resident Sandra Clark.
Crews were working to pump the remaining sewage out of the area Thursday.
The main line serves western Hollywood, portions of western Broward County and Pembroke Pines, and it broke as construction workers were working on a new parallel line.
"The bypass system that they had set up became overwhelmed. That is when we had the rupture on this main line on Taft Street," said Raelin Storey, of the city of Hollywood. "There is nowhere else for this sewage to go but through this main line to the plant."
Many residents are concerned about the health risks of being surrounded by raw sewage. The city of Hollywood on Thursday released information on what people should do if they come into contact with the wastewater.
"I am very nervous," said resident Sandra Clark. "I have 8-year-old little girls who are in school, and I don't think I am coming back home with them today."
Residents aren't too happy with the mess, but they do appreciate how fast crews are working.
"I can't complain. They are doing a great job," said resident Diana Klas.
Taft Street is closed between North 32nd Court and Interstate 95, and drivers are asked to avoid the area. Officials asked that residents to avoid unnecessary showers, toilet flushing, laundry, dishwashing and other activities.
The city spokeswoman said the break is not affecting drinking water in any way.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is testing the water quality of the nearby C-10 canal. The city posted signs warning against fishing, swimming and wading in that canal.
The city offered free hotel rooms for residents affected by the spill.
After the pipe is fixed, the city of Hollywood said the next step will be disinfecting the area.