Gulf Gate Estates residents advised about water project

Sarasota County Public Works Department staff plans to shut down a water main in Gulf Gate Estates from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Residents in about 100 homes were to have been notified by the end of the day Friday, Jan. 20. Those residents are on Goodwater Street, Blue Water Avenue, Bowline Drive, Prairie Lane and Markridge Road.

A fire hydrant will be replaced at 3140 Pairie Lane and two valves will be repaired, according to a county news release.

While county staff has no reason to believe drinking water will be contaminated, Florida law requires drinking water providers to issue precautionary boil water advisories to customers affected by pressure losses in water mains, the news release notes.

While the advisory is in effect, therefore, affected customers should boil tap water intended for drinking, food preparation, washing food utensils, making ice, brushing teeth and for first aid. Water should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute. Boiling the tap water disinfects it, destroying any harmful microorganisms.

Bottled water can be used as an alternative to boiling tap water.

After the water project is complete in the neighborhood, county staff will collect a series of samples in the affected area and analyze them to ensure potentially harmful bacteria don’t contaminate the drinking water during the service interruption. Customers will be notified by another notice when the boil water advisory has been canceled.

For more information, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 861-5000.