E. Coli Scare Prompts Boil Water Advisory Across Broward
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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – People living in various cities across Broward County should keep from drinking or using tap water without boiling or somehow filtering it first.
An untreated water sample taken from one of the wells that feeds into the George T. Lohmeyer Wastewater Treatment Plant tested positive for E. coli.
The city has since taken it out of service and issued a boil water advisory.
Meanwhile, on busy Las Olas Boulevard, people who live in the area and visitors alike are having to shell out a few extra bucks for bottled water.
A man enjoying ice cream with his family outside a shop told CBS4 reporter Donna Rapado they had just eaten at nearby "Cafe Europa and we bought water." The man said he paid about $7 for each bottle.
A lady from Canada eating ice cream at the next bench said she did the same thing.
"I'm a tourist and the hotel didn't know," she explained. "So I just bought water bottles tonight at their restaurant."
Some restaurant managers in the area didn't know about the boil water advisory.
The night manager at Grill Republic Restaurant said he notified his day manager as soon as he heard earlier. They immediately stopped using tap water in the kitchen and bar.
"We went straight to our bottled water," said James Hill. "We told all our customers about it and actually put half off of the cost of our bottles of water to compensate for this."
The Lohmeyer Facility serves several cities. The advisory applies to people in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park and Port Everglades – as well as parts of Tamarac and unincorporated Broward County.
The city said tests on finished, treated water samples keep indicating the drinking water is safe.
Still, the state suggests those who live in the affected cities should continue to boil their water until further notice.
