Stop Private Sewer! Your Involvement Matters.

Thank you all the Palm Island residents who helped us fight against the EU sewer that could compromise our community’s well-being. As soon as we have an update, we will let you know! If you want to help more, please write another letter to the commission or make a donation.

Critical Updates & Action

Thank you to the hundreds of islanders who came to the PSC hearings to help us show our opposition to unnecessary, privatized sewer. Thank you to the 120+ people who bravely spoke directly to the commission. And thank you to all who have donated to help pay legal fees.

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What’s Next After the Sewer Hearings?

Now that the PSC sewer hearings have concluded, many people are wondering when we’ll get a decision and whether the Commissioners had already made up their minds before the hearings began. Find out what happens next and when we’ll have a decision.

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Make a Donation

If you haven’t made a donation to our action fund, please considering doing so to help with attorney fees, expert witnesses and other related legal expenses. We accept donations via:

  • Zelle
  • Check
  • Paypal

The Main Reasons We Oppose Private Sewer

No Need for Service

There has been no water testing or any evidence of need for sewer and there has not been any polling of the community for interest.

Excessive Cost

The realistic estimated cost to the homeowner is over $40K up front! There will be no “pay-over-time”, no low-cost loans and no way to opt out.

Private & For Profit

Because EU would be a private company running the sewer instead of the county, we won’t be afforded payment plans, there’s no competition, and no central oversight.

Outdated Technology

EU wants to use a low-pressure systems, which Charlotte County won’t install any more because of the excessive maintenance they require.

Damage to the Environment

The proposed sewer project will cause years of disruption and destroy natural wildlife habitats for decades. The island will never be the same!

Traffic Congestion

We all know how long the ferry waits can be and how difficult getting around the island can be with FEMA trucks. Imagine that, but worse.

Maintenance & Emergency Situations

The required grinder pump at each home will be susceptible to our harsh salt air. If there’s an emergency repair needed, how will they get here after ferry hours?

Undue Installation Burden to the Homeowner

Each homeowner will have to provide electric permits and service, plumbing and the system will need a generator to run in a power outage.

Mandatory Easements

Plan on giving away an estimated 15’ runway of your property from your house to the road that you can’t build on, drive over or put anything permanent on.

Undesirable Development

Central Sewer opens the door to highrises. We’ve seen it on Fort Myers Beach and Anna Maria Island. ​We do not want to see it here.

No Oversight

There is no performance bond required and we have no single point of recourse in the event of cost overruns or project failure. ​

How You Can Help:

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Donate

Please consider donating to the PIE Action Fund help with attorney fees, expert witnesses and other related legal expenses.

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Watch the Hearings

You can now watch the videos from the technical hearing as well as the two service hearings online.

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Write Letters

You can write the commission as many times as you’d like. Each letter helps to show our objection and helps our case.

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Connect on Facebook

Help us reach more islanders by following us on Facebook, liking our posts as well as commenting on and sharing our posts.

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Why We Don’t Want A Private, For Profit Sewer?

There are significant differences between a private utility, like Environmental Utilities (EU), and a non-profit utility, such as Charlotte County Utilities (CCU). For example, CCU offers decades long “pay-over-time” plans, has mandatory competitive bids, and centralized oversight. EU would not have any of this.

Why We Don’t Want a Low-Pressure System?

Most of us do not think much about what happens after we flush the toilet. But there is a world of infrastructure and technology options out there. Learn about the three primary types of central sewer systems and specifically why we don’t want a low-pressure system.

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Understanding Sewer Systems and our Case Against the EU’s Proposal to Centralized Our Sewer Systems.

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Why We Don’t Want a Low-Pressure System

Learn about different kinds of sewer systems and why Charlotte Country refuses to install any more low-pressure systems.

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SEWER FAQs

Uncover the critical facts and urgent concerns surrounding EUs’ latest application for a central sewer system—click here to learn how you can make your voice heard!

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Why No Centralized Sewer

Discover the urgent facts and potential consequences of EUs’ central sewer proposal for our island—click here to learn why we must stand together against this costly and unnecessary change!

Palm Island Estates Association, Inc. © Copyright 2025