Spills or planned releases occur in the following ways.  The FL Department of Environmental Protection requires reporting of SPILLS over 1,000 gallons as of 1 July 2017.  Those reports are available via FL DEP Website.

1. Due to breaks in pipes prior to treatment (raw sewage)
2. Due to influx and infiltration prior to treatment (raw sewage); influx may be rain events, usually greater than 5 inches in a 24 hour period.
3. After secondary treatment, same reasons as 1 & 2.
   1. Prior to 1986 about 50 million gallons were DAILY released into Indian River Lagoon, stopped by law via 10 year plan, ceased by 1996.
   2. CURRRENTLY, FLORIDA IS AUTHORIZED TO RELEASE 500 MILLION GALLONS INTO ATLANTIC OCEAN, AND RELEASES 189 MILLION DAILY.  (See the link, far below).
4. After advanced treatment, into the ocean or into the ground, deep insertion.  Or, the water is reused to water public spaces, public projects, golf courses.

Reference:  Brevard County Utilities Services, Wastewater, “Florida Wastewater Treatment Overview.pdf”

After treatment, here’s how it gets in the Atlantic Ocean:

FL Dumps 189 Million Gallons of Waste Sewage into Atlantic Daily