PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A precautionary 48-hour boil water notice has been issued for all residences and businesses in the Tradition neighborhood of Port St. Lucie.
The city of Port St. Lucie issued the advisory Monday morning after a 30-inch potable water main leak was reported in the area of Discovery Way and Community Boulevard. Traffic was diverted in the area due to flooding.
The leak was isolated via water main valves within an hour and water has been restored, according to a statement from the city.
”They had to isolate where the leak was, so they had to isolate valves around it to keep water from continuing to flow to it,” Jenny Tomes, community outreach utility systems assistant manager, said.
The first calls regarding low water pressure came into police and city utilities overnight and before dawn, the intersection of Community Boulevard and Discovery Way was flooded.
“Once a break like that happens, as much as the water can get out into the ground," Tomes said, "the line is also vulnerable so things can get in."
A precautionary 48-hour boil water notice has been issued for all residents and businesses in the Tradition area.
— Port St. Lucie (@CityPortStLucie) April 10, 2023
The leak has been isolated and water has been restored. However, many residents and businesses in the areas south of Crosstown Parkway, west of Interstate 95, north… pic.twitter.com/jTDiYxcJCx
About 9,900 customers are impacted. Residents and businesses in the areas south of Crosstown Parkway, west of Interstate 95, north of C-23 Canal near Becker Road, east of Rangeline Road are under a precautionary 48-hour boil water notice.
Zeus Coffee is one of many businesses affected by the main break.
"We can’t make cold brew," Sal Giamanco said.
Even Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital was impacted.
A hospital spokeswoman said they were made aware of the issue around 1:30 a.m .Monday. She added the hospital maintains emergency supplies, including water, and hospital operations and patient care have not been impacted.
The cause of the leak is still under investigation.
“This pipe was installed in 2018. It’s PVC," Tomes said. "It’s a very new pipe, so it’s a mystery at this point.”
This is the second water main break in the Tradition area in the last month. The same area went under a boil water alert after a contractor struck a water main.
If customers experience a prolonged loss of water pressure or any other water-related issues, residents should call the Utility Systems department at 772-873-6400, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or send an email to utility@cityofpsl.com.
Residents also can start a live chat at utility.cityofpsl.com between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The boil water notice is in effect until Wednesday.
