With more wet weather this week Tampa Bay communities are keeping a watch on their swollen sewer systems.
In the past month, nearly 200 million gallons of partially treated sewage have been released into the bay.
St. Petersburg’s aging sewer system is responsible for more than half of that staggering amount.
Heavy rains from Hurricane Hermine over-burdened most Pinellas County sewer system sending the runoff into the bay.
Pinellas County commissioner started the process of creating a county-wide sewer system task force.
People walking along Bayshore Drive in Petersburg say that is welcome news.
"This is the lifeblood of our entire community," said Saint Pete resident Luke Proctor. "Without the actual ocean and bay, then we haven’t got anything. It should be the number one priority in my opinion.”
The Florida shorebird alliance believes the sewage releases into the bay are killing sea birds. Forty-seven black skimmer birds form a tracked colony of 115 have suffered convulsions and died in the past few weeks.