DEP records show 25 sewage spills involving LaBelle wastewater plant since 2021

LABELLE, Fla. (WINK) — The massive wastewater spill that released an estimated 450,000 gallons of untreated sewage earlier this month is the largest spill involving LaBelle's wastewater treatment plant ever but WINK Investigates found it's far from the first.

After reviewing incident reports from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), WINK Investigates found 25 sewage spills involving the city's wastewater treatment plant and related infrastructure between 2021 and 2026. The incidents occurred at different parts of the wastewater system connected to the plant, not necessarily at the plant's main address.

The records show:

• 2021: 7 sewage spills
• 2022: 9 sewage spills
• 2023: 4 sewage spills
• 2024: 3 sewage spills
• 2025: 1 sewage spill
• 2026: 1 sewage spill (so far)

Together, DEP records show those incidents released about 585,500 gallons of untreated wastewater, in addition to several spills involving treated, partially treated or reclaimed water.

The latest spill alone accounted for 450,000 gallons of untreated sewage, making it the largest spill involving the plant.

City officials on Friday held a press conference explaining the latest spill happened after a mower accidentally struck and damaged a pipe connected to the wastewater system.

A look at the incidents

DEP records reviewed by WINK Investigates show the following sewage spills involving the plant and its wastewater infrastructure over the past five years:

2026

• July 7-10: 450,000 gallons of untreated wastewater

2025

• Aug. 24-Sept. 1: 87,300 gallons of untreated wastewater

2024

• Oct. 10: 7,000 gallons of treated wastewater
• Oct. 7: 1,000 gallons of untreated wastewater
• Sept. 14: Untreated wastewater (volume not listed)

2023

• Sept. 19: 100 gallons untreated
• Feb. 11: 4,000 gallons untreated
• Feb. 11: 100 gallons untreated
• Feb. 11: 500 gallons untreated

2022

• Dec. 28: 50 gallons untreated
• Aug. 31: 300 gallons untreated
• May 13: 500 gallons untreated
• May 1: 8,000 gallons untreated
• Feb. 16: 200 gallons reclaimed water
• Feb. 16: 5,000 gallons untreated
• Feb. 7: 1,000 gallons untreated
• Feb. 2: 300 gallons untreated
• Jan. 11: 1,500 gallons untreated

2021

• Nov. 15-16: 850 gallons untreated
• Oct. 11: 10,000 gallons untreated
• Aug. 27: 10,000 gallons treated
• July 12: 5,000 gallons partially treated
• June 21-22: 12,000 gallons untreated
• June 14: 1,500 gallons untreated
• June 13: 1,500 gallons untreated

City: Latest spill was an accident

The city previously determined the July spill was caused by an accidental break in a wastewater pipe after mowing equipment struck it.

Public Works Superintendent Mitchell Wells said the spill was not caused by a failure of the wastewater treatment plant or its equipment, but by accidental damage to a pipe connected to the system.

DEP records reviewed by WINK Investigates show that is not the first time mowing equipment has been linked to a sewage spill involving the plant. A 2022 incident was also attributed to a lawn mower damaging wastewater infrastructure.

Following the spill, crews recovered nearly 60,000 gallons of contaminated water, removed contaminated soil, treated the area with lime and confirmed some wastewater reached the Caloosahatchee.

Testing also found no contamination in nearby private drinking water wells.

When asked what is being done to prevent future spills, city officials said newer technology helps monitor the wastewater system. However, they said accidents can still happen, and mechanical pump failures cannot always be prevented.