Cocoa Beach asks customers to limit water usage as heavy rain overwhelms wastewater system
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Cocoa Beach utilities are asking residents and businesses to limit water usage as flooding across parts of Brevard County puts heavy pressure on the city’s wastewater system and raises the risk of sewage overflow.The request comes after the area was doused with more than five inches of rain in less than 24 hours, according to information provided by the city.Utilities Director Brad Kalsow said floodwaters have inundated key facilities and pushed the city’s treatment plant beyond capacity.“It’s inundated our facilities,” Kalsow said. “Our treatment plant is above capacity at this point… Our sewer collection system is surcharged. The lift stations are doing what they can.”[WATCH: Heavy rains cause flooding in Brevard County neighborhoods]Kalsow said Cocoa Beach’s aging infrastructure adds to the problem during major rain events, because water can infiltrate older sewer lines.“A lot of these sewer systems were built in the 1960s so they’re old and there’s a lot of infiltration in our syst