WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The city of West Palm Beach has issued a precautionary boil water notice after a water main break. The notice is for West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and South Palm Beach.
Officials urge residents to not use tap water for the following purposes until the city issues a "rescission" notice:
- Drinking water for you or your pets
- Brushing teeth
- Cooking
- Making Ice (shut off the ice maker in your refrigerator)
- Washing dishes.
The city said the water is safe to use for bathing, showering and washing clothes.
West Palm Beach has temporarily switched to chlorine as its disinfectant, which if you are sensitive to the taste or odor of chlorine, keep an open container of drinking water in your refrigerator for a few hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
Users of home dialysis machines, owners of tropical fish, and managers of stores and restaurants with fish and shellfish holding tanks are advised to seek professional advice, as the method for removing chlorine residuals differs from removing chloramine residuals from tap water.
Mayor Keith James said repairs should be finished Friday, but due to bacteria testing, the boil water notice may not be rescinded until Sunday.
He said the break happened late Thursday night near Tamarind Avenue and Fifth Street.
The break is believed to have been caused by age. James said the recent cold weather may have been a factor.
James said the water main was inspected just six months ago, but he didn't say the results of the inspection.
Customers throughout the county are either experiencing low water pressure or have no water at all.