FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — For years, South Florida residents have battled an ongoing water problem — derelict boats, illegal sewage dumping, and worsening water quality from Miami Beach to Hollywood. Now, Fort Lauderdale is taking action.
“People could be getting sick, and they don’t know why,” said Suzee Bailey, founder of Residents for Resilience.
“The city just recently adopted an ordinance that limits overnight anchoring to no more than 30 days,” said Marco Aguilera, Fort Lauderdale’s chief waterways officer.
Lake Sylvia, along the Intracoastal Waterway, has long been a hotspot for boats anchoring for extended periods. Aguilera said the new enforcement is already visible on the water.
“You’ll see some of these sailboats actually have red tags on them,” he said. “They have a certain amount of time left in their permitted 30 days before they come into violation.”
The ordinance, which went into effect Sept. 18, has already led to a significant reduction in the number of derelict or at-risk vessels.
“There’s at some point been up to 40 boats in here. The boats would frequently drag anchor, sometimes sink, catch fire,” said Aguilera. “And one of the many things that they would often do is illicit discharge of their sewage.”
City leaders say the sewage problem has been especially destructive.
“The recreation opportunities in places like Fort Lauderdale are really important,” said Mayor Dean Trantalis. “It’s great that kids and families are able to take jet skis and swim. And it should always be open to the public and not someone’s sewage pit.”
Currently, Fort Lauderdale operates four pump-out stations where boaters can properly dispose of their waste. But the city is expanding its efforts, recently approving the purchase of a mobile sewage pump-out vessel similar to one used successfully in Martin County. The service will be available through a mobile app.
“And you can ask to have your bilge processed through this boat that’ll be on call and demand,” Trantalis said. “You can discharge your bilge through this boat, and it will prevent the sewage from going into the waterways.”
The new service is expected to begin early 2026. The city says it will help target problem areas identified by Miami Waterkeeper, which regularly tests 11 sites throughout Fort Lauderdale and plans to add microbial source tracking to strengthen its monitoring.
“Seeing the water quality improve, seeing the water clarity improve — that’s what I really want to hear from the locals that use the water every day,” Aguilera said.
Protecting local waterways is about more than just policy — it’s about preserving a way of life.
“The coolest thing I could do as a kid was spend time on the water,” Aguilera said. “And I hope my kids are able to do the same thing one day.”
The pump-out boat program will be free to residents and visiting boaters, with the state covering 75% of the cost. City officials say they’ve seen similar programs succeed elsewhere and are optimistic it will do the same in Fort Lauderdale.
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