By Coral Gables Gazette staff
The City of Coral Gables held its second-to-last neighborhood meeting this week to discuss its ongoing Septic-to-Sewer Master Plan, continuing a series of presentations that have taken place across different areas of the city. As in previous meetings, residents raised concerns about the high costs of switching from septic tanks to a centralized sewer system – costs they say may be too high, unfair, and not even necessary.
Public Works Director Hermes Díaz opened the meeting with an overview of the city’s long-term plan, emphasizing that while the city has developed a comprehensive blueprint, there is no final timeline for implementation. The estimated cost to convert the entire city from septic to sewer is approximately $400 million.
A plan without a timeline
“Whether we move forward with this in a couple of years, or five or ten, will be determined by whether the money can be made available,” Díaz said. “And that’s really going to be the determinant on when we can go ahead and do this.”
Roughly half of Coral Gables homes remain on septic systems. Many of these systems are aging and do not meet modern construction or environmental standards, said consultant Nick Fernandez of Ardurra Engineering.
“The City of Coral Gables has taken it upon themselves to create a city initiative where we are planning a public sewer system to serve the entire city,” Fernandez explained. He noted that septic failures are often sudden and expensive. “There’s no warning on when it fails, it just fails,” he said. “I’ve dealt with that myself.”
The latest meeting focused on City Basins 6, 7, and 8, which are all in an area between Coral Way and Bird Road, from SW 57th Avenue to SW 37th Avenue. Consultant Valerie Coloma presented estimated costs for construction and hook-ups based on current pricing:
- Basin 6: $3.2 million total / 111 properties → approx. $29,000 per household
- Basin 7: $10 million total / 192 properties → approx. $52,000 per household
- Basin 8: $7 million total / 159 properties → approx. $44,000 per household
Sticker shock for homeowners
The estimates did not include the cost to remove an existing septic tank and connect the home to the new sewer line. Coloma said those private-property costs are currently estimated at around $16,000, but could vary depending on lot size and conditions.
“This is just an estimation,” Diaz said. “It could be less, it could be more.”
Residents, however, were quick to note that previous media reports and contractor estimates placed the total cost per household between $50,000 and $100,000 once all expenses are included.
“It’s not as simple as paying to connect your property to the line,” one resident said. “We will probably be responsible for maintenance costs too. This is deceptive.”
Díaz pushed back. “I take objection to calling this deceptive,” he said. “We are here to lay everything out clearly, which is why we ask that you allow us to go through the full explanation.”
Still, residents repeatedly questioned why homeowners – not the city – would be the ones absorbing the majority of the financial burden.
Another resident from Basin 7 voiced frustration: “The total cost is $10 million divided by 192 properties. That’s $52,000 each—plus $16,600 for the work on our own property. What part does the city pay?”
Who should bear the cost?
A longtime resident added that uncertainty over how and when the city would institute the conversion could result in her having to install a new septic tank if her current one fails, only to possibly be required to remove it later if the sewer expansion proceeds. “That’s just insane,” she said.
Some residents acknowledged the long-term environmental benefits of moving to a sewer system but stressed that those benefits cannot overshadow affordability concerns. “If costs come down and there’s grant assistance, then maybe,” one resident said. “But this is not a small expense.”
Díaz reiterated that the city is actively exploring state and federal grants and that public feedback will shape how the city approaches funding and phasing.
“We hear you,” he said. “It is expensive, 100 percent. Which is why we encourage every single one of you to fill out the survey and make your opinion known.”
Next steps and public input
The final neighborhood meeting in the current series will take place on Wednesday, November 12 for the Granada Basin area. A presentation to the City Commission is expected in January, at which point the commission will decide whether and how to move forward.
“Let’s get an idea of what it’s going to cost, let’s get your input,” Díaz said. “Your feedback is what will drive the next steps, if any.”
This Post Has 24 Comments
Everything I hear from the city is how to spend more money. Can the city please focus on how to be more efficient and do only what is absolutely necessary. If the city does not really have to embark on this major project, which will likely end up costing at least twice as much as what is being projected, why are we wasting so much time on this?
I think the people of Coral Gables should know that most of the sewer line pipes were installed in the 60s and 70s and are now rotted out busted asbestos pipes. My husband died because he mowed that lawn for 18 years and didn’t know that asbestos was coming up out of the soil there are 600,000 miles of this in America and people don’t even know about pit. Some people are growing food on it. Others are mowing lawns picking weeds. It’s extremely dangerous And if the Coral Gables governmental people are not going to tell everyone that removing any sewer lines could be extremely dangerous and keeping them as dangerous then something is really wrong with the people who are running that city.. go to Google and type what is happening with the asbestos sewer lines in America and you will see all the places where there are class action suits because of rectal cancer that came as a result of people working with the soil
If the home is already on sewer are we sharing in the costs for those who are still on septic?
Good morning..I read the article and I do see anything regarding the ederly people that live in the area and cannot afore it. I am an appraiser who lives in Coral Gables for over 30 years and lately ederly home owners are fustrated with the new taxes and homeowners insurance and are obligated to sell their homes…now sewer over $50,000 ..
Good morning..I read the article and I do see anything regarding the ederly people that live in the area and cannot afore it. I am an appraiser who lives in Coral Gables for over 30 years and lately ederly home owners are fustrated with the new taxes and homeowners insurance and are obligated to sell their homes…now sewer over $50,000 ..
We are part of Miami Dade County and there should be funds available. Also, for many years now we have been charged a sewer charge, these funds also should be used. Let’s compare the prices you project with what other Cities have paid.
Dade County does ot have the funds to pay its own bills, thanks to incompetent leadership there too.
This would be WWIII and will never happen unless property owners chose to increase their property taxes exponentially. $55,000 to $104,000 each. No elected representative in the country would override their constituents and mandate an exponential property tax increase.
I have had it with Coral Gables. Whatever we say you arrogant leaders do what you want. As someone who has lived here 35 years and is now retired, I could not pay this and we would lose our home. If you want this, then you pay for it. I know this is Anderson’s baby and you will not win. There is no way we can come up with this kind of money and then our water bill goes what? HUNDREDS PER WATER BILL on top of this expense. Do you know that with the state of the economy everyone is stretched thin. This will have legal repercussions if you try to force us to pay this amount and many will lose their homes. Also we were not informed of another meeting. We went to the first but somehow you missed to informed us. Intentional? Anything underhanded you all do does not surprise me. Stop the ridiculous over-budget hub and build a plain parking garage, sell the art work your sneaky manager bought ( who was brought back against our wishes and behind our back) for 1 million dollars and clean up your mess. Iglesias also wasted 1M on the first hub drawings. You will then have the money to do this project financially. We will not pay for this, we will not pay for this, we will not pay for this. Maybe your deaf ears will hear this since you are not listening with the over construction of our city.
I can’t agree with you more!! I’ve lived in the same house in Coral Gables for 70 years. Referendums and meetings are pretty much useless and a waste of our time. I can attest to nothing has changed in all these years. The City gives us options and then ALWAYS twists things around, in their favor, regardless of our opinions. And might I add…. this so called artwork located around the city…..you’re kidding me right!
It’s atrocious, not attractive and a total waste of our tax payers money. These millions of dollars should and could be spent elsewhere, where it would truly benefit the residents of Coral Gables! Also septic to sewer, I’d love it, but I’M NOT gonna foot the bill for this to happen……
I would, for sure, loose my childhood home that I dearly cherish. We as CG residents need to vote for honest and true representatives…. the trouble is, do they exist?
We will also definitely be charged by MDWASD for maintenance, probably added to our water bills. This is not affordable for most residents. Add that in 75 years the City will be under water with global warming.
I have lived in Coral Gables for over 20 years and currently retired. Being on a fixed income, it’s already a stretch to pay all the bills. I am not on septic and my water bill was coming in high compared to my sons who lives in the City of Miami. I recently called MDWS and asked why my son‘s water usage was nearly the same yet my bill was substantially higher. They explained every city has a different charge for sewer. Coral Gables is substantially higher. This has not been mentioned by the City of Gables and I’m sure many residents don’t know. In addition to the outrageous cost the residents currently on septic will have to pay to be connected they will be paying a substantially higher water bill. They should use the additional funds they’re charging through the water bill to fund this project. Also, will the City of Coral Gables charge the residents who already previously paid for the connection to the sewer? Please stop treating the residents as puppets and manipulating them with half truths. There is currently a lot of wasteful spending. The more the City of Coral Gables collects in property taxes the more they spend on unnecessary projects like the mobility hub. Are they trying to force long time residents to sell their homes and increase the property tax revenue since property values have increased approximately 63% since the pandemic? The City of Coral Gables should currently have a substantial budget surplus. We need more transparency from the City of Coral Gables for their revenue and expenses.
as a 45 year resident of coral gables i SAY NO WAY
Over MY DEAD BODY. Just try to swindle a $80K or $100K property tax increase on us elected “representatives”!!! This would be the biggest scandal in city history attempting to mandate an insane property tax on its residents to enter a failing, leaking public sewer (under federal consent decree by the EPA)” for Miami-Dade county mismanagement failures.
Perhaps if feasible ,the infrastructure can be .created and those willing and able to pay can connect to sewer can do so.. If some choose to do it later have the flexibility although it will cost more to connect.The financial aspect does come in to play but this is a long term improvement and would have to be amortized on the tax roll . Help from the state would be essential. It can be done and is past due.. Unfortunately, the governments at all levels do not coordinate the work simultaneously to save costs. Streets were just dug up for storm sewers. They are no being dug up for underground electric and gas lines.. If it cannot be done , the matter can be put to a referendum.
Never notified of our specific basin meeting!
Attended first general one.
Couldn’t agree more with every prior posting.
Does the County even have the capacity to process all our additional effluent? I recall multiple breaks in sewer mains spilling effluent in our waterways.
This is just laying the groundwork for upzoning of our single family neighborhoods for the benefit of developers waiting with bated breath.
The city is engaging in predatory urban planning that pressures residents to sell.
As Coral Gables, like most government entities in Florida (and probably nationally), no longer publishes public meeting notices (“It’s on the website” is not notice), I was unaware of the meetings associated with the septic to sewer project. Now that I know of the last meeting (which happens to cover my neighborhood), I will attend. Are these meetings only in-person or can we attend via video? Thanks in advance.
A joke. The city has our email addresses and they use it when they want to attack each other politically or disrespect another politician. If they have that then they can send us notices of meetings. Do you think we have time to check you propaganda based web site all the time? Send meeting notices through emails instead of your hate for each other.
I, like countless others simply could not financially afford to convert to what the EPA has identified, in many instances, as a worse polluting sewer option regularly closing our beaches our bay and badly mismanaged by the county. I refuse to lose my home over such an irrational, hypothetical idea of stealing $80,000+++ that I don’t have. I will not ever allow the government to place a LIEN on my home and force-finance exponential six-figures +++ assessments to my property taxes.
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I am not convinced levying an outrageous property tax burden that would force many residents out of their homes is a prudent means of representing the fine people of Coral Gables.
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Therefore, we request every elected representative commissioner to reject any more of these nonsensical, “hypothetical ideas or meetings” — until *A) the federal government and *B) the state of Florida have formulated a comprehensive financial plan in the respective legislatures for the State’s two-million working septic systems, and Miami-Dade County’s 130,000 functioning septic systems.
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And most importantly, A) the federal government, B) the State of Florida, and C) Miami-Dade County and all 34 municipalities have budgeted and allocated the HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS necessary to ever consider such a non-starter “hypothetical idea” for the state of Florida. Otherwise, such a ridiculous idea would force countless residents and families out of their homes.
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Most are aware that this will never happen in our lifetime. . . UNTIL all of the above happens at the Federal and State and County levels. . . You, our local Gables elected representatives, will never have a half-a-billion dollars budgeted to force residents into the mismanaged, leaking sewer under federal consent decree.
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And exponentially increasing property taxes is not an option.
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And forced-financing six-figures +++ on families is not an option.
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And placing a LIEN on homes is not an option.
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And forcing families out of their homes is not an option.
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Move on elected representatives (to much more important matters) until all the above happens.
This should be front and center at the next commission meeting. We must know where each commissioner stands on this insanity.
I thought the original ‘septic-to-sewer’ idea was to prevent septic drain fields from homes along our canals from seeping sewage into our waterways then eventually entering Biscayne Bay – what a great idea! The City should pursue this environmentally advantageous project without cost to existing home owners but require all new home construction on waterways to pay for connection. However, If The City of Coral Gables wants sewers in ALL our streets, let the City or M-D County fund their installation without financial burden to existing home owners. If a home owner’s septic tank fails, they can opt into the sewer system as desired at their own expense. The City should look for federal grant money, research State of FL and EPA incentives, pull from the coffers of previous property taxes, or use our robust parking collections (now being used to fund other City projects).
I agree with all the comments above — reduce ‘pet projects’ like the Mobility Hub, which residents have opposed since 2017 ($2.4M was wasted on architectural plans prior to 2023) and just build a less offensive/huge PARKING garage. As stated at the 10/28 City Commission meeting RE the Mobility Hub by Vice Mayor Anderson, holding up her phone, “I haven’t received any emails on this”, and Comm Lara “…only a handful of residents have appeared against it (three of us spoke during Public Comments)…That’s an implicit endorsement in my view.” The Public Notice was sent to those addresses within 1000 ft, most of which are not homeowners, but most residents hold the downtown Coral Gables area dear to us. I also believe our long-time Mayor and City Manager have allowed many structures to deteriorate due to lack of maintenance (eg parking garages 1 & 4 and the Biltmore Gondola bldg) so they have an excuse to demolish and then rebuild as suits them. All of these blunders require City money to ‘rescue’, but why isn’t that money going toward the sewer costs they so badly want?
Finally, all the comments made above are wonderful and heartfelt, but it is just a forum. I sincerely doubt anyone in our government responsible for making these decisions even reads this stuff. I suggest that all commenters copy/paste their words then send them in an email to each of those ‘in charge’. I’ve included their email addresses below.
vlago@coralgables.com – Mayor Vince Lago
randerson@coralgables.com – Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson
mcastro@coralgables.com – Comm Melissa Castro
ariel@coralgables.com – Comm Ariel Fernandez
rlara@coralgables.com – Comm Richard Lara
piglesias@coralgables.com – City Manager Peter Iglesias
To send to all, copy/paste this in your ‘Send to’, then include the topic in the ‘Subject’ of the email.
vlago@coralgables.com, randerson@coralgables.com, mcastro@coralgables.com, ariel@coralgables.com,
rlara@coralgables.com, piglesias@coralgables.com
When you continue to vote for a new or the same clowns, there’s always going to be a circus. Next time you vote, consider all the factors beforehand. Stop complaining or face the same consequences. Demand change.
Living in coral gables for 55 years
I’m 89 years old
Do you think I’m going to pay or wait for my last trip ?