Fort Lauderdale boil-water notice to continue after failed tests

The boil-water notice issued in Fort Lauderdale w i l l re ma i n in effect through the weekend after water samples taken on Thursday and Friday failed bacterial tests, the city said Saturday.

The precautionary notice, affecting the Las Olas Isles area, began Thursday night as emergency repair crews tackled a water main break.

The following streets are affected: South Gordon Road; Hendricks Isle; Isle of Venice; Fiesta Way; Nurmi Drive; Mola Avenue; Isle of Capri; Bontona Avenue; Coconut Isle; Lido Drive; San Marco Drive; Coral Way; and Royal Plaza Drive.

“Residents in the affected area are advised that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled,” the city said. “A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.”

The boil-water notice will remain in place until two consecutive days of passing test results. Water samples were to be taken Saturday and again today, and the city expects to have an update Monday morning on whether the notice can be lifted.

The city said it will also begin a “flushing strategy” Saturday that could result in a loss of water pressure and discolored water.

The water main break Thursday was the result of a faulty valve, a city spokesman said. No construction or digging was taking place in the area.

Properties near Las Olas Boulevard and San Marco Drive experienced low water pressure and temporary interruptions to service.

At a b o u t 10 : 3 0 p. m. Thursday, City Commissioner Steve Glassman said repair work to the 6-inch water main was complete.

According to the city, a precautionary boil-water notice like this is issued “when an incident occurs in which there is a chance of bacteria entering the water system.”

A mandatory boil-water notice would be issued if E. coli were detected in the water, which has not been the case in Fort Lauderdale, the city says.

The same neighborhood was hit by an extended boilwater order just two months ago.

The city advises that anyone with questions call the 24-hour Neighbor Call Center at 954-828-8000.