Melbourne Utilities lifted a boil water advisory Monday for 167,000 residents after laboratory tests showed water meets safety standards. The advisory had been in place since April 23 following a pressure drop in the city’s water system. Residents were told to boil water for drinking, cooking, and making ice until further notice.
The city said tests on April 29 and May 1 detected no contaminants in samples taken from multiple locations across the city. Officials emphasized that the water system’s infrastructure was not damaged during the incident. “We took this step out of an abundance of caution,” said City Manager Mark Thompson. “Our team worked around the clock to resolve the issue.”
The advisory affected areas from the Melbourne International Airport to the Sebastian River, including neighborhoods like Fairwinds and Heritage Park. Restaurants, schools, and healthcare facilities were among the hardest hit, with some relying on bottled water for weeks. The city estimated the incident cost businesses over $2 million in lost revenue.
Residents were advised to flush their plumbing systems by running cold water for two minutes before using it for drinking or cooking. The city also distributed free water filters to households with young children or elderly residents. A follow-up report is expected from the Florida Department of Health in the coming weeks.
The incident follows a similar advisory in 2021, which lasted six days. City officials said improvements to the water system’s backup pumps and pressure monitoring equipment have been made since then. A spokesperson said no similar issues are currently under investigation.