Ruptured pipe, water main break prompts boil water notice for Palm City

MARTIN COUNTY — A boil water notice is in effect for Palm City after lightning ruptured an underground pipe and caused a water main break.

The lightning struck the pipe underground Wednesday evening near Southwest High Meadow Avenue, said Martha Ann Kneiss, a county spokesperson.

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"The water main break was caused by a lightning strike, which traveled down ... into the ground and broke the pipe, which is kind of crazy," Kneiss said. "But that's what happened." 

The pipe broke around 5 p.m. Wednesday and crews repaired it that night. But the water boil notice is in effect for all of Palm City, Kneiss said.

"They restored service," Kneiss said. "But, as a precaution, we always do a boil water notice when there's a break, and there is sampling, water testing and more sampling that they have to do."

Kneiss said the boil notice typically lasts 48 hours. Residents and businesses using tap water in Palm City should continue to boil their water until the county advises otherwise.

Issuing boil water notices during pipe rupture is standard government protocol, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Boil water notices are required after water main breaks or planned distribution system interruptions deemed "an imminent public health threat" by the state or county health office, Department of Environmental Protection district office or if it will affect the bacteriological quality of the drinking water, according to state health guidelines.

A rolling boil for a period of 1 minute is sufficient to render drinking water microbiologically safe, free of bacteria, viruses and protozoa," according to the CDC and state health office.

Renay Rouse, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health in Martin County said the health office notified schools and businesses of the boil water notice.

Rouse said bacteria can contaminate the water from a ruptured pipe.

“It creates a portal for things to seep in,” Rouse said. “That could be an issue.”

If people consume unboiled water, the contaminants can cause various health risks.

“Potentially if you’ve consumed some contaminated water you could have some things like stomach upsets. You could have diarrea. You could have some vomiting,” Rouse said.

Lisa Winch, the owner of Brick Oven Pizza Co., said her business had to adapt fast to the boil notice.

Immediately, staff had to wash vegetables and dishes with bottled water. 

“It’s a big pain in the neck, but it beats taking that financial hit and closing,” Winch said. “Like it’s not just me, but my staff depends on the money.”

She said they were lucky to have clean ice stocked up for drinks. But servers were using 2-liter bottles to serve sodas for customers eating inside.

They managed to remain open Wednesday night.

Winch said other restaurants in Palm City closed because of the water being unusable.

She said she takes the precautions seriously to protect her customers.

“You have to because the public’s at risk if you don’t,” she said.

Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm focusing on Martin County. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@tcpalm.com.