KISSIMMEE, Fla.,None — A water main break is affecting 45,000 customers Thursday in Kissimmee. The main broke near a construction site at John Young Parkway and Carroll Street in Kissimmee earlier Thursday.
Crews are fixing the break, but its effect could last for days. That's because most of Kissimmee is under a boil water alert, which is being done as a precaution.
The alert will be in effect until lifted by the Toho Water Authority and that could take days.
MAP: View Area Under Boil Water Alert WEBSITE: Toho Water Authority
Crews on Carroll Street in Kissimmee are still working to repair a ruptured water main that sent 250,000 gallons of water running into the street.
It also left most of Kissimmee with little or no water pressure for about one hour. Rey Rivera was in the shower when he lost his water.
"All of a sudden we see the water pressure is going. We said we lost the water and tried to hurry to take off the soap," Rivera said.
The Toho Water Authority said a road construction crew was working to move a valve near the main when the break happened. Water is being routed through another water main.
The exact cause of the break is still under investigation, but the end result is clear; 45,000 customers living around Michigan Avenue west to I-4 and Osceola Parkway south to 17-92 are being asked to boil their water a full minute before consuming it. That would include brushing your teeth.
"I don't want to get sick and especially my daughter, we make formula for her," Rivera said.
Osceola Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital Kissimmee said they weren't impacted by the break. However, Florida Hospital also says it has hundreds of gallons of water on hand for just such emergencies.
Also, a few Osceola County schools are drinking bottled water until the Toho Water Authority gets test results back on water quality after Thursday's break.
"It takes at least two days, we're hoping to have our results back by Saturday," Rivera said.
WFTV
