Boil water notice issued for south Brevard beach residents

Nearly 6,500 South Brevard water residents on the beachside are under a precautionary boil water notice following pipe breach in Indialantic early Thursday. It could also take up to two days before testing gives the all-clear for the notice to be dropped, Melbourne officials said in a release. 

"A contractor, not ours, was doing some work in that area and hit a six-inch water main," said Cheryl Mall, spokesperson for the city of Melbourne.

The boil water notice — issued Thursday morning — affects Melbourne water customers on the beachside in and around the Spessard Holland Golf Course toward the south.

Utility crews are working to repair the break at Shannon Avenue and 14th Avenue in Indialantic. At least eight homes on Shannon were without water.

A water main was damaged during work by a contractor.

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The boil water notice was issued after reports of the water pressure dropping in the area, affecting the water for 2,126 direct customers, including homes, businesses and other locations. City officials calculate that to be about 6,500 residents, Mall says. 

Residents should use bottled water or boil all water used to drink, cook, make ice, or carry out other household chores. A rolling boil of up to one minute is recommended. The boil water notice will remain in effect until bacteriological testing shows that the water is safe for human consumption. 

 J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jdgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop. To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/