More than a half-million Tampa water customers will have to continue boiling their drinking water or rely on bottled water at least through Sunday morning.
City crews collected 25 water samples throughout the service area on Saturday. The samples are being tested for possible bacterial contamination. However, testing the samples for safety will take another 24 hours, according to City of Tampa water officials.
So, the "boil water notice" remains in effect. Tampa's entire water supply was compromised and possibly contaminated with bacteria during the one-hour power outage Friday at the city's water treatment plant. Power officials blame a squirrel with chewing through one power line and overloading a switch.
The city will provide an update after they receive results from the water quality tests. Customers can sign-up online for City of Tampa Alerts.
