PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County has partially lifted a health alert for the body of water after a sewer line burst near Lake Worth Beach on April 9.
A contractor working with AT&T struck a sewer line near Florida Mango Road between Waterside Drive and the L-10 Canal, damaging 36 inches of line. An estimated 3 million to 5 million gallons were spilled until the line was repaired four days after the break by the Lake Worth Public Facilities District.
Health department warnings continued.
“Recent Coordinated Clinical Testing with the City of Lake Worth Beach and the State of Florida
“The Department of Environmental Protection has concluded that the water in these areas once again meets surface water quality standards for fecal indicator bacteria, confirming that the public can resume water-related activities,” the agency said Friday. stated in a news release.
A surface water advisory remains in place between South Congress Avenue and Florida Mango Road. Drinking water is not affected.
Palm Beach County, Florida Health Department
This includes a no-swimming advisory and a no-irrigation advisory for residents and visitors to the area.
On Friday, authorities lifted advisories for the following areas:
◾ Lake Clark and Lake Clark shore
◾ L-10 Canal
◾ L-9 Canal
◾ Grassy Saw Lake
◾ Lake Osborne
◾ C-51/West Palm Beach Canal
◾ Canal between Waterway Drive and Lake Drive
◾ Canal between Lake Drive and Pine Tree Lane
◾ Keller Canal
Crews used vacuum trucks to remove contaminants from the affected canals and aerators to return oxygen to the water and reduce odor. Workers installed a bypass around the leak site to allow sewage to move freely.
Booms have been installed both upstream and downstream of the fracture to temporarily contain the spilled wastewater, and the wastewater is being pumped and collected into the wastewater treatment system.
For additional information regarding the potential health effects of sewage overflows, Floridians are encouraged to contact DOH Palm Beach at 561-837-5900 or chd50contactus@flhealth.gov.
