Water main break shuts down Groveland treatment plant, disrupts service to thousands
Groveland water main break leaves 3,500 homes with low pressure
About 3,500 homes in Groveland experienced low water pressure Tuesday after a major water main break outside the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant, marking the city's third water disruption this month.
GROVELAND, Fla. - A major water main break in Lake County outside the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant prompted a precautionary boil water notice and left parts of Groveland with low water pressure on Tuesday morning.
Crews are working to repair the system, marking another infrastructure hurdle for local residents.
What we know:
City officials were alerted to the large water main break at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday. Crews had temporarily shut off the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant by noon to assess the damage and begin repairs directly outside the facility.
Residents in the northern service area, specifically along Cherry Lake Road, State Road 19, Wilson Lake Parkway, and U.S. 27, are experiencing lower-than-normal water pressure as workers stabilize the system. The water system is working to supplement the loss of pressure, and field crews are assessing pressures throughout the area.
Those affected are under a precautionary boil water notice and should follow guidance until it is lifted. A bottled water distribution will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cherry Lake Preparatory Academy car line. Residents with questions can call the resident information line at 352-429-2740.
Officials scheduled a press conference for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at 20390 U.S. Highway 27, Groveland, FL 34736, where the break is located near the abandoned Days Inn at the corner of U.S. 27 and State Road 19.
What we don't know:
City leaders have not announced an estimated time for when the water main repairs will be finished. It is also unclear when the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant will be turned back on or when the boil water notice will be lifted.
We also don't know what the crews were working on when the pipe broke.
The backstory:
This latest break follows multiple recent water incidents in the Groveland area. Just last Friday, a software error shut down pumps at the Sunshine Water Treatment Plant, triggering a boil water advisory for thousands of residents.
Earlier this year, a lightning strike knocked out power to the facility in June.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the City of Groveland, who issued press releases regarding the water main break and the subsequent boil water notice. Additional context about previous water system failures was gathered from FOX 35 News reports.