Delray Beach issues boil water notice after FPL worker mistake - Palm Beach Post

Delray Beach issues boil water notice after FPL worker mistake

Delray Beach issues precautionary boil water notice after water main mistakenly damaged

The notice was issued was issued for all properties from East Atlantic Avenue to George Bush Boulevard and from the Intracoastal to North Ocean Boulevard on Tuesday.
Jasmine Fernández

DELRAY BEACH— A precautionary boil water notice was issued Tuesday in Delray Beach for all properties from East Atlantic Avenue to George Bush Boulevard and from the Intracoastal Waterway to North Ocean Boulevard.

The notice comes after a city water main near Andrews Avenue and Harbor Drive on the barrier island was damaged by a Florida Power & Light Co. subcontractor working in the area, interrupting the water service provided by the city.

Crews have completed repairs to the water main, but several steps lie ahead before Delray Beach officials lift the notice. Here’s what else area residents need to know.

How long will the water notice be in place for Delray Beach?

The precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until a bacteriological test shows the water is safe to drink. Once testing is complete, people in affected areas will receive a rescission notice telling them so.

The rescission notice and any updates will be shared on the city’s website, delraybeachfl.gov, and the city’s Facebook ( @CityofDelrayBeach) and Twitter, or X, ( @citydelraybeach) pages. For more questions, call (561) 243-7312.

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What does a ‘precautionary boil water notice’ mean for Delray?

The notice means that an incident occurred that could potentially lead to back-flow or bacteria entering the water system. This could include low to no pressure, a water main break or a disruption in the power plant. In this case, it was a damaged main.

Residents are advised that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient, per the utilities department. Bottled water may be used as an alternative.

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A history of water issues in Delray Beach

In 2020, the Florida Department of Health investigated why the city had not been cleaning its water storage tanks at least once every five years. About a month later, a nonprofit warned of chemicals in the city's water. The city insisted its water met standards.

Last year, a sinkhole swallowed a woman's car in the Kings Point neighborhood, leading to Kings Point ramping up $7 million in water and sewer projects.

This year, a Delray Beach whistleblower who alleged she was fired from her job as a water inspector for bringing water treatment problems to the state's attention settled her water contamination lawsuit for $818,500.

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Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com. Help support our work. Subscribe today.