Residents in parts of Palm Beach County can breathe a bit easier as health officials have given the green light to resume water activities in several areas following a sizable sewage spill. After a 36-inch sewer line was struck by an AT&T contractor on April 9, causing millions of gallons of waste to flow into nearby waters, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County has now confirmed that the quality of water has returned to safe levels in most affected locations.
An estimated 3 million to 5 million gallons of sewage were discharged when the line was damaged near Florida Mango Road, between Waterside Drive and the L-10 Canal, the incident which lasted for four days, has now seen some cleanup progress. As reported by WPTV, emergency crews deployed vacuum trucks and set up a bypass to manage the flow of sewage, while also working to contain and recover the spilled wastewater.
In an update, officials lifted a no-swim advisory in several key areas, marking an improvement from the initial widespread public health alert. "Recent coordinated laboratory testing with the City of Lake Worth Beach and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has concluded that the water in these areas again meets surface water quality standards for fecal-indicator bacteria confirming the public may resume water-related activities," said the health agency in a statement obtained by WPTV.
Despite a lifting of advisories for Lake Clarke, Lake Clarke Shores, and several canals, an advisory remains in effect for surface water between South Congress Avenue and Florida Mango Road, where, the drinking water supply remains unaffected, according to health department maps. The original alert sparked concerns for potential health risks due to high bacteria levels, a situation addressed by the city's utilities director in an interview with The Palm Beach Post, after the initial sewage spill.
For those seeking additional information on potential health impacts related to the sewage spill, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County encourages residents to reach out for guidance, their contact details being made available to the public for further inquiries and assistance.
