Lake Worth Beach sewage spill update: Five things to know and can you drink the water?

LAKE WORTH BEACH — Here is the latest on the health alert issued by the city of Lake Worth Beach after a contractor for AT&T damaged a 36-inch subregional wastewater force main on Florida Mango Road between Waterside Drive and the L-10 Canal on Tuesday.

A health alert, no swim advisory and no irrigation for a number of waterways are all still in effect as Lake Worth Beach Water Utilities crews and emergency contractors are working to repair the break.

Crews are still working to repair the ruptured sewer line

Lake Worth Beach officials said they are in communication and are collaborating with the affected municipalities including Palm Springs, Lantana, Atlantis, Manalapan, South Palm Beach, Lake Clarke Shores and Palm Beach State College.

According to a news release from the city, work includes:

• Vacuum trucks deployed from multiple municipalities and contractors to manage flow in the L-10 Canal.
• Six turbidity barriers have been installed upstream and downstream of the force main break in the L-10 Canal to prevent further spread of contamination.
• Earth berms have been constructed in the L-10 Canal on either side of the force main break to isolate and filter the contamination.

Florida Mango Road is closed between Waterside Drive and Garden Road. Officials said it likely won't open until next week. Regulatory agencies have been notified, including the Florida Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

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 What are the waterways affected by the sewage issue?

Residents should not swim or fish in the following areas:

• Lake Clarke and Lake Clarke Shores
• L-10 Canal
• L-9 Canal
• Grassy Saw Lake
• Lake Osborne
• C-51 / West Palm Beach Canal
• Canal between Waterway Drive and W. Lake Drive
• Canal between W. Lake Drive and Pine Tree Lane
• Keller Canal
• Other nearby surface water bodies connected to the listed water bodies 

Can you drink the water in Lake Worth Beach?

Yes. Drinking water is not affected. The city is urging residents to take precautions until further information is known regarding possible bacterial contamination.

Water contaminated with elevated fecal bacteria presents several health risks to humans. Microbes in fecal bacteria could cause gastrointestinal issues and other conditions.

What if you come in contact with the contaminated water?

Anyone who comes into contact with the water in those areas should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking. Children and older adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to disease, so every precaution should be taken if needed.

Where can you get updates on the sewage spill?

For more information about the potential health effects of wastewater overflow, Floridians areencouraged to contact DOH-Palm Beach at 561-837-5900 or chd50contactus@flhealth.gov.

For information about the status of ongoing sampling and water quality monitoring/cleanup efforts,contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection at (561) 681-6600.

Should any problems arise that require immediate attention, residents should contact the Lake Worth Beach's emergency number at (561) 586-1695.

James Coleman is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jcoleman@pbpost.com and follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JimColeman11. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.