Why So Many Boil Water Notices on Marco Island?

Residents are likely recognizing that the City of Marco Island has posted several boil water notices over the last few months. Boil water notices are driven by pressure loss in the water line. Any time the pressure in the water lines that transport potable water falls below 20 pounds per square inch, a boil water notice is issued as a precaution, even when contamination is unlikely. The typical notice is issued as a precaution until water samples can be collected and analyzed. This is done because any loss in water pressure creates the possibility of harmful bacteria entering the lines. A loss of pressure in the line can be caused by routine maintenance, water main breaks, construction mistakes, disruptions at the water treatment plant, or natural disasters like floods and hurricanes.

The City does not currently have any water main replacement projects underway. Rather, many of the recent water outages have been created by contractors installing cable around the Island and inadvertently damaging the water mains. When this occurs, the City issues a stop work order to the contractor until their work practices are altered to prevent such damage. The City also issues a boil water notice in that area to ensure the health and safety of our residents and as required following such a pressure loss.

When a boil water notice is required, the City alerts the impacted customers using social media, traditional press releases, website updates, and MyMarco mobile app notifications. A boil water notice means tap water should not be used for drinking, cooking, or ice-making until tests verify the water meets all standards. Testing the water and obtaining the results typically take 48 hours. In the meantime, any tap water used for drinking or in anything that humans and animals ingest, should be vigorously boiled for at least one full minute. The boiling kills any microorganisms that may be present.

The City website has a list of boil water frequently asked questions located at https://www.cityofmarcoisland.com/watersewer/page/boil-water-notice-faqs. Additionally, residents are encouraged to follow the Marco Island City Hall Facebook or Nextdoor pages, Marco Island Twitter, or subscribe to the free MyMarco mobile app to get important updates. Additional questions about water main repairs or boil water notices can be directed to 239-389-3922.