What Southshore’s Boom Means for Our Sewage
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Everybody wants to move to Florida.” And if you’ve tried to get through a 4-way stop in Riverview during rush hour or order tacos in less than 40 minutes, you know it’s true.
Southshore is growing fast. New homes, new businesses, more people, more cars… and more you know what. We’re not just expanding, we’re flushing at record levels. And now, Hillsborough County’s wastewater system is officially running a 24/7 overnight shift just to keep up with the “demand.”
That’s right, while you’re sleeping, the county is literally pumping poop.
And it’s not just a few extra gallons. Wastewater processing has skyrocketed in recent years, especially in fast-growing areas like Riverview, Wimauma, and South County. So much so, Hillsborough had to extend plant operating hours overnight just to make sure the system doesn’t get overloaded.
If you’re wondering what happens when we do overload? Let’s just say it makes those “boil water advisories” look like spa treatments.
💡 What’s causing all this?
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Thousands of new homes being built
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Endless construction projects
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A lot more showers, dishes, laundry, and… well, flushes
As one county official put it, “It’s growth-driven.” (Which is the polite way of saying we’re all just really busy living and flushing in paradise.)
🚨 What can you do?
Not much unless you plan to stop bathing or start composting your toilet paper (please don’t). But it’s a good reminder of how fast things are changing here. Growth is exciting, but it’s also infrastructure-intensive. We can’t just build the homes, we have to build the underground pipes, plants, and people-power to handle what comes out the other side.
So next time you see a county utility truck parked near a manhole, give them a wave. They’re not just fixing pipes, they’re holding the line between civilization and a very smelly future.
Welcome to life in a booming community. We’re growing. We’re thriving. And we’re… flushing.