PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The precautionary boil water notice that had residents across Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, and Tierra Verde reaching for bottled water has officially been cancelled. Pinellas County Utilities gave the green light today, confirming that tap water in the affected coastal areas is once again safe for all uses, including drinking and cooking.
The disruption began late Wednesday night when a transformer blew near the Isle of Capri pump station. While utility crews moved quickly to repair the electrical failure and get the water flowing again, the brief drop in pipe pressure triggered a mandatory safety protocol. When pressure hits a certain low point, there is a technical risk that outside groundwater could enter the system through tiny cracks or joints in the infrastructure.
To ensure public safety, the county’s Water Quality team spent the last two days collecting and analyzing samples from across the barrier islands. The results of those tests now prove that the water meets all state and federal drinking water standards, showing no signs of bacterial contamination.
Throughout the advisory, locals were told to boil their water for at least one minute or use bleach drops to disinfect any water intended for personal hygiene or consumption. With the notice now lifted, those extra steps are no longer necessary.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Residents across Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, and Tierra Verde are waking up to strict water restrictions this morning after a transformer failure late Wednesday night. While Pinellas County Utilities crews managed to get the water flowing again after the Isle of Capri pump station lost power, the temporary drop in pressure has left the system vulnerable to potential contamination.
As of 10 p.m. on Wednesday, a mandatory precautionary boil water notice remains in effect for all customers in the affected coastal areas.
The trouble began when a transformer blew near the pump station, causing an immediate dip in line pressure. Even though the mechanical fix was handled quickly, officials explain that when pipes lose pressure, the vacuum can pull outside groundwater or bacteria through small cracks and joints in the infrastructure.
Because of this risk, the county is taking no chances, requiring the notice to stay active until lab results confirm the water is safe to consume.
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For the time being, families in these beach communities need to shift their routines. If you’re reaching for the tap to brush your teeth, make coffee, or prep dinner, the county says you must bring that water to a rolling boil for at least sixty seconds first.
If your tap water looks a bit cloudy or discolored, you should run it through a coffee filter or a clean cloth before putting it on the stove. Once boiled, the water needs to be stored in a sanitized, covered container to keep it clean.
For those who might not have access to a stove or a way to heat water, there is a backup disinfection method using basic household bleach. By adding about eight drops (or 1/8 of a teaspoon) of unscented bleach to a gallon of water and letting it sit for half an hour, you can reduce the risk of illness. However, health officials stress that boiling is still the gold standard for killing off parasites and viruses.
Pinellas County Utilities is currently running a battery of water quality tests. These samples take time to process in the lab, so the “all-clear” isn’t expected immediately.
Until the county officially rescinds the order via an update on their website, residents are urged to stick to bottled water or the boiling method for any activity where water might be swallowed. You can keep an eye on the latest status of the repairs and testing results by checking the updates at Pinellas.gov/utilities.
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