After a week of bottled water, Palm Beach County residents can now resume using tap water. As of Friday, June 4th, a water advisory for the city of West Palm Beach has been lifted.
The advisory was put in place last Friday after recent water tests detected the presence of the toxin Cylindrospermosin.
West Palm Beach water customers are advised to flush their water systems for at least five to ten minutes before resuming water use. Also customers should replace their water filters and discard all ice.
The announcement comes after Mayor Keith James said on Thursday he was waiting for approval from regulatory agencies before lifting the advisory.
#BREAKING: West Palm Beach water advisory lifted; all customers can resume drinking tap water https://t.co/znHRTOptpr
— WPTV (@WPTV) June 4, 2021
ORIGINAL STORY
Palm Beach Mayor Keith James says a water advisory issued last week for vulnerable members of the population will continue, but may be lifted soon.
The advisory affects 140,000 residents in West Palm Beach, the town of Palm Beach and town of South Palm Beach.
Thursday, the mayor said he is working with the Department of Environmental Protection in reviewing additional data before giving an “all clear” to lift the advisory.
The water advisory was issued Friday night after Cylindrospermopsin, a toxin produced by blue-green algae was detected in the water system.
It is unclear when the DEP will remove the advisory or what their standards for the removal are, according to the mayor.
“We’re encouraged, however, we’re somewhat frustrated because we don’t know when the end will be,” James said.
Residents in “vulnerable populations” are urged not to drink tap water. These people include:
~infants
~young children under the age of six
~pregnant women and nursing mothers
~the elderly
~those with preexisting liver conditions
~those who are receiving dialysis treatment
~animals
The city has established a point of distribution POD for bottled water to any resident affected.
WATER DISTRIBUTION:
POD TO OPERATE ON FRIDAY: The City of West Palm Beach will continue to operate a point of distribution (POD) at Gaines Park, 1501 N. Australian Avenue, for the distribution of water to vulnerable populations impacted by the Drinking Water Advisory. On Friday, June 4, 2021, the Gaines Park POD will operate from 9 a.m. – noon. Impacted water customers are requested to present ID.
DISTRIBUTION TO DATE: The City of West Palm Beach has distributed 280,000+ bottles of water over five days of POD operation.