North Hutchinson Island under boil water alert after main burst.

A precautionary boil-water notice was issued Thursday by the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) for residents and businesses on North Hutchinson Island. The move comes after FPUA successfully repaired a main water line that was damaged by a landscaping contractor close to Shimonek Lane and the Northern Causeway. Although the incident has since been rectified, water service had been temporarily impacted to both the customers of St. Lucie County Utility and FPUA. Unfortunately, the event has affected approximately 830 connections, including businesses, single-family homes, and condominiums.

As a result, the St. Lucie County is warning the inhabitants of the affected areas and imposing a 72-hour precautionary boil water advisory. This implies that any water intended for drinking or cooking should be boiled before consumption. To that end, FPUA has furnished citizens with instructions on how to proceed to boil water accordingly. However, the County recommended utilizing bottled water instead, should it be readily available.

“If you don’t have bottled water, you should boil water to make it safe. Boil the water for one minute, let it cool, and store it in clean containers with covers. If you can’t boil water, you can disinfect it using household bleach. Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. Store disinfected water in clean containers with covers.”

The problem with the water supply arose when a landscaper inadvertently struck the water line. The mishap caused the county’s water treatment plant to shut down temporarily, impacting water service for a brief period. However, FPUA acted promptly and efficiently to fix the issue, preventing any further damage.

According to Trish Oberacker, the FPUA’s communications manager, the repair of the main water line suffered a 45-minute delay. Nevertheless, she commended the authorities for their decisive and swift response, stating that a repair contractor was immediately dispatched to fix the damaged line.

The boil-water advisory is a standard procedure under these circumstances to ensure the safety and well-being of the general public. Authorities plan to lift the notice after 72 hours following the test results indicating that the water supply is free of contaminants. In conclusion, the FPUA and County urged residents and businesses in the impacted areas to follow the advisory and the water boiling guidelines to ensure public safety.

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