Orlando residents still worry about Big Sand Lake water levels despite expensive drainage project
Dr. Phillips homeowners say flooding fix has flaws
A $10 million project meant to divert water from a lake in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood had major delays and did not function well enough to keep properties safe over the hurricane season, homeowners tell FOX 35 News.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - Residents near Big Sand Lake near the Doctor Phillips subdivision still have concerns about the water levels, despite the $10 million drainage project completed last year.
The extensive project, meant to divert water from a lake in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood, had major delays and wasn’t functioning well enough to keep properties safe over the hurricane season.
Now, a Big Sand Lake Advisory Board Member tells FOX 35 News that the new outfall pipe still isn’t draining the water out low enough.
Rising waters at Orange County lake threaten docks
The backstory:
Residents in the Big Sand Lake area have learned long ago to keep an eye on the high water levels.
A leader from the Big Sand Lake Advisory Board contacted FOX 35 News when he noticed water flowing into the lake when it should be flowing out.
The Florida Department of Transportation began working on a $10 million outfall to address the issue.
The project first began in 2019, with construction starting in early 2023. However, the Florida Department of Transportation reported delays due to financial constraints, soil conditions and hardware delivery issues.
Residents raise additional concerns
What they're saying:
The outfall pipe installed is supposed to kick in if the water level is above 92.8 feet.
It’s about a foot above that right now. If it’s past the threshold, the pipe is supposed to automatically divert the water.
"Most of the docks are still underwater," said John Jennings, the chairman of the Big Sand Lake Advisory Board. "It's not working, and it's not going to."
Right now, the Florida Department of Transportation still is responsible for operation and maintenance of the outfall.
A representative from the Florida Department of Transportation told FOX 35 News that, "the drainage is working as intended."
"As the water levels of Big Sand Lake get lower and lower, the downward pressure of the water above the outfall is reduced, and this causes the water to convey slower through the outfall," Florida Department of Transportation officials said.
But Jennings said the project isn’t working as the Big Sand Lake Advisory Board expected.
"Everybody is concerned when it starts raining again," he said. "We won't be down low enough to be able to take the water that's going to come when it starts raining again."
What's next:
Workers were on site Friday installing a meter meant to measure water flow through the outfall pipe.
That’s a $50,000 expense added to the $10 million project just completed here, and that bill could get even higher.
The Big Sand Lake Advisory Board will meet Feb. 26 to discuss paying a company to evaluate whether it’s feasible to build a permanent pump station to reduce water levels — and how much it would cost to do so.
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The Source: This story was written based on previous reporting, as well as information shared by the Big Sand Lake Advisory Board and the Florida Department of Transportation.