Tampa Distributing Bottled Water To Residents, Businesses As Boil Water Notice Continues

The city of Tampa has issued a precautionary boil water notice after a third-party performing work hit a transmission main coming from the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility Monday afternoon.

Residents are being told to take precautions to disinfect tap water to kill any bacteria or viruses.

Those precautions include:

• Bring the water to a rolling boil and holding it there for one minute. Aerate the boiled water by pouring it from one container to another several times to improve the "flat" taste left by boiling, then refrigerate for best results.
• Use bleach if you cannot boil your water. Add eight drops (about 1/8th teaspoon) of bleach for one gallon of tap water, shake, then let stand for 30 minutes before drinking. Use food grade containers and unscented common household bleach that has 5% to 6% active ingredients. If the water is cloudy, use 16 drops, about ¼ teaspoon of bleach instead of 8. There should be a slight chlorine odor.
• Use water purification tables or iodine that many sports and camping stores sell.

The city also announced Tuesday it will be distributing free bottled water to residents.

It will be limited to one case per household, and families with more than four members can receive two cases.

Residents can pick up water on Tuesday until 7 p.m., and on Wednesday through 8 a.m until 7 p.m. while supplies last, at the following locations:

• Himes Ave. Sports Complex - 4501 S. Himes Ave
• MacFarlane Park - 1700 N. MacDill Ave. (near the basketball courts – turn onto Main St. from MacDill Ave)
• Al Barnes Park - 2902 N. 32nd St.
• New Tampa Community Center - 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.

In addition, businesses in need of bottled water and face coverings can pick those up at Al Lopez Park, 4810 N. Himes Ave., on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. while supplies last.

Also Tuesday, the city rescinded an order requiring people to shut off all their automatic irrigation meter and sprinkler systems.

Tampa Water Department officials said Tuesday they expect repairs to be completed later in the day, but that such boil water notices generally last for at least two days.

The city is directing people to its website for further information.

Some Hillsborough County communities that receive their water via an interconnect with Tampa are also being told to boil their water.

That list includes Eastlake, Fairview, Herschel Heights, Pebble Creek, Palm River, and Seaboard.