Sewage leak prompts water advisory

A break in an 18-inch sewer main sent an estimated 100,000 gallons of sewage over five hours into the Intracoastal Waterway and streets on the beach, Fort Lauderdale officials said Monday.

The city advised residents to avoid swimming, fishing, using personal watercraft and other activities in the Intracoastal Waterway until further notice.

The area of the Intracoastal that is under the advisory is south of East Sunrise Boulevard, from Northeast Ninth Street to the south end of Intracoastal Drive on the west bank of the waterway; on the east side, the area spans from the canal north of Vistamar Street south to Rio Mar Street, according to a map released by officials.

The sanitary sewer pipe broke at 741 Bayshore Dr. on the barrier island at 3:49 a.m. The leak was stopped at 8:30 a.m., according to a preliminary report the city filed to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The city is grappling with a crumbling infrastructure of aging, underground pipes that deliver water and carry away sewage.

Residents who live or work near the busted pipe were also advised to avoid standing water and to detour around the site, the city said.

Residents may call the Fort Lauderdale customer service center at 954-828-8000 or visit fortlauderdale.gov/lauderserv.