The Florida Health Department in Palm Beach County has lifted a health alert for several water bodies after a sewer line rupture near Lake Worth Beach on April 9. A 36-inch line was damaged by a contractor working with AT&T near Florida Mango Road between Waterside Drive and the L-10 Canal. An estimated 3 to 5 million gallons of sewage were released before the line was repaired by the Lake Worth Utility District four days later.
Recent laboratory testing with the City of Lake Worth Beach and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that the water in affected areas now meets surface water quality standards for fecal-indicator bacteria. This means that residents and visitors can resume water-related activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing without any health risks. However, an advisory remains in place for the surface water between South Congress Avenue and Florida Mango Road due to ongoing investigations into the cause of the spill.
The no-swim advisory and no irrigation restriction for residents and visitors have been lifted in several areas by officials, including Lake Clarke, Lake Clarke Shores, L-10 Canal, L-9 Canal, Grassy Saw Lake, Lake Osborne, C-51/West Palm Beach Canal, and several canals in the vicinity. Crews have been working around the clock to clean up the contaminated canals using vacuum trucks to remove sewage and aerators to add oxygen back to the water.
A bypass was installed around the site of the leak to allow sewage to flow freely without any blockages or restrictions. Booms were placed upstream and downstream from the break to contain any spilled wastewater from entering other bodies of water. For more information on how wastewater overflow affects human health, residents are advised to contact DOH-Palm Beach at 561-837-5900 or chd50contactus@flhealth.gov.
In conclusion, officials have lifted most health advisories related to a recent sewer line rupture near Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County. Residents can now resume their usual activities without any health risks associated with contaminated waters.
