ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A boil water advisory was issued Wednesday for parts of St. Johns County, including three schools, following a water main break, according to a JEA announcement.
The water main burst when a contractor working for a developer struck a 20-inch pipe on Race Track Road near Durbin Creek Elementary, a JEA spokesperson said.
The water main break had been repaired by Thursday, but 5,800 people still need to boil their water until JEA gives the all clear.
Residents are urged to boil any water they intend to drink or use for cooking. In lieu of that, they're asked to use bottled water.
St. Johns County resident Heather Matos said she was already weary of having to boil the water after one day.
“I'm thirsty,” Matos said. “It’s a little bit nerve-racking, because you don’t really know. You can't brush your teeth with it. You can't wash your vegetables and stuff with it, so we are just using bottled water.”
Matos said she is using water she had left over from Hurricane Irma.
She said she saw the area flooded near the water main break.
“I passed right past it and there was water everywhere, and I passed the water hydrant. There was water coming out of that. That's when we realized it was happening,” Matos said.
Managers at local grocery stores said they've seen an increase in bottled water sales since the advisory was announced.
The advisory will remain in effect until further notice. It affects the following locations and neighborhoods:
- Creekside High School
- Durbin Creek Elementary
- Race Track Road Patriot Oaks Academy
- Race Track Road from the east end of Durbin Creek Boulevard to St. Johns Parkway
- The west end of St. Johns Parkway from Race Track Road to County Road 210
- County Road 210 from St. Johns Parkway to Stone Creek Circle
- Celestina
- The Oaks
- Eastwood
- Pine Crossing
- St. Andrews Place
- Veterans Park
- Julington Lakes
- Durbin Crossing
- Cimarrone
- South Hampton
- Johns Creek
The St. Johns County School District will have bottled water available to Durbin Creek students Thursday and Friday, according to the district's website.
JEA is testing the water to make sure it is bacteria free. The results must be safe for two consecutive days before the advisory will be lifted.
Crews will be posting signs in affected neighborhoods. For more information about this advisory, contact JEA customer service: 904-665-6000.