MELBOURNE, Fla. — The city of Melbourne issued a two-day boil-water notice Wednesday after a lightning strike temporarily cut power at the city's water production facilities, officials said.
“It caused a surge and prohibited our generators from kicking on, and also took our high service pumps out in regard to being able to provide water to the system,” said Ralph Reigelsperger, director of public works and utilities administration.
Thirty Melbourne-area schools were also affected by notice. The water notice affects 150,000 people in South Brevard County.
To address the issue, water fountains will be covered at the schools, cafeterias will use bottled water for food preparation and additional hand sanitizer was being delivered to affected schools, Brevard County Schools said.
“Sending her to school, I wasn’t worried at all. I figured they were on top of it,” said parent Jamie Doyle.
The boil-water notice was put in place as a precaution in case bacteria was able to get into the water supply during the power outage. Test results will come back in two days and the city will determine if the notice will be lifted.
Residents should boil all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes, the city said.
Communities included in the notice were Melbourne, West Melbourne, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach and Palm Shores.
Schools affected by the notice are:
Elementary
Roy Allen ES
Dr. WJ Creel ES
Croton ES
Gemini ES
Harbor City ES
Holland ES
Indialantic ES
Longleaf ES
Meadowlane Int. and Prim. ESs
Ocean Breeze ES
Sea Park ES
Sherwood ES
Surfside ES
University Park ES
West Melbourne SS
Secondary
Central MS
DeLaura MS
Eau Gallie HS
Hoover MS
Johnson MS
Melbourne HS
Palm Bay MHS
Satellite HS
Stone MMS
West Shore JSHS
Other
S. Area Alternate Ed.
S. Areas Adult Ed.
Monroe St. Bus Cmpd.
Mid-Sourth Bus Cmpd.
Satellite Bus Cmpd.