About Water Outages

Occasionally, the Utilities Department will need to perform maintenance on its water line system.  During construction, the water may need to be turned off so that the utility crews can make needed repairs.  At other times, contractors working on land development projects may accidentally hit and break a water line.  In these types of circumstances, residents or businesses near the work zone may experience loss of water pressure or even a complete water outage.  

How to Prepare for Planned Water Outages

While the Utilities Department strives to keep planned water outages as brief as possible, we know they can be inconvenient and want to help you be prepared. To help minimize issues in your home during a temporary water disruption, please consider these tips in preparing for the disruption.

Before Water Service is Interrupted

• Fill pots on the stove with water for cooking and other essential uses.
• Fill a couple of buckets with water for general washing needs.
• Set aside potable water containers for drinking—plan for at least one gallon per person, per day.
• Fill your bathtubs with water to use for flushing toilets. A toilet typically flushes with about a gallon of water when poured directly into the bowl.

During the Water Outage

• Avoid using water faucets during the outage. Keeping your faucets OFF will help prevent air from entering your plumbing system.

After an Outage and Water Discoloration

• After the water outage is over, and you turn on your faucet again, you will likely see discolored water coming out of the faucet due to the water pressure returning and stirring up the rust and sediment inside the pipes. This is normal.  
• Let the water continue to run for several minutes or until the water becomes clear.  If the water remains discolored, wait for one to two hours, then run cold water for a few minutes in a bathtub or shower.  Bear in mind, homes on longer, dead-end lines may take a bit longer to clear.
• If your water is still discolored, it’s very important to avoid using hot water to prevent discolored water from entering the hot water tank.

Precautionary Boil Water Notices (PBWN)

• A precautionary boil water notice does not necessarily mean something is wrong with the water. It means that it is possible that contaminants have entered the system. Customers are advised as a precautionary measure, to boil tap water for cooking and drinking. Click here for more information on PBWNs. 

 If you or someone in your household has health concerns that require additional support, please contact the Utility Billing Department at 850)233-5100, ext. 3. 

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our community’s water infrastructure.