Aug. 2, 2013

Media contacts: 

Dave Cash, 941-650-2699; [email protected]

Steve Cottrel, 941-861-0550; 941-915-2437; [email protected]

Boil water advisory issued after water main break

Westbound lane of Bee Ridge Road is closed

SARASOTA - A boil water advisory has been issued after repairs were made to a 12-inch water main at the intersection of Bee Ridge Road and Sarasota Golf Club Boulevard. The westbound lane of Bee Ridge Road is closed, and traffic is being rerouted into the Lake Sarasota subdivision. The break occurred early this morning and interrupted service to approximately 100 residential and business customers on the north side of Bee Ridge Road at Aberdeen Drive, Walden Pond Drive, Rollins Pond Way, Kosten Way and Hagen Lane.

Several heath care facilities are affected. They include Live Oak Manor, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota, CAE Healthcare and Complex Care Hospital at Ridgelake. They are on Edgelake Drive and Mauna Loa Boulevard. The water is back on and samples are being pulled.

While the county has no reason to believe the drinking water was contaminated, Florida law requires that drinking water providers issue precautionary boil water advisories to customers affected by pressure losses in water mains.

While the advisory is in effect, the county advises affected customers to boil all tap water intended for drinking, preparation of food, washing of food utensils, making ice, brushing teeth or for first aid, making sure the water is brought to a rolling boil for one minute. Boiling the tap water disinfects it, destroying any harmful microorganisms. Bottled water can be used as an alternative to boiling the tap water.

Over the next few days, the county will collect a series of samples in the affected area and analyze them to ensure the drinking water wasn't contaminated by potentially harmful bacteria during the service interruption. Customers will notified by an automated telephone call that the boil water advisory has been canceled.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 (TTY 7-1-1 or 1-800-955-8771).

Sarasota County, located in southwest Florida, incorporated in 1921 and adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1971. The charter establishes a commission form of government with elected county commissioners as the county's governing body. An appointed county administrator acts as chief administrative officer and is responsible for operations and administration. Approximately 386,000 residents live within the county's unincorporated area and four municipalities, the cities of Sarasota, North Port and Venice, and the town of Longboat Key. Sarasota County is an All America County (2008), and its landmark Siesta Key Beach was named the No. 1 beach in America in 2011. The county's budget has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 23 consecutive years. In 2013, the county's website, www.scgov.net, was named by the editors of "Sunshine Review" as one of the most transparent government websites in the United States.