Jacksonville, Fla. — If you live in the Sandalwood, Town Center, or Tinseltown areas, you’ll need to boil your water before you use it.
JEA issued a boil water advisory on Friday after E. coli were found in a sample that was collected on Saints Road.
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Here’s a map of the affected area. JEA told Action News Jax that 19,500 customers are affected.
So what does this mean for you? Here are the answers to frequently asked questions to JEA.
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Should I use an alternative source of drinking water or boil my water?
Yes. Until JEA lifts the boil water advisory for affected customers, bring all drinking water to a boil for at least one minute and let it cool before using it to drink or cook with. You may also use bottled water. General guidelines to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria are also available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
What was done to address this situation?
The drinking water treatment plant was taken offline. Additional confirmation sampling was immediately initiated upon discovery of this potential problem. Chlorine was maintained in the water distribution system throughout this period of time to help ensure bacteria would not be present in your drinking water. We anticipate resolving the problem within 3 days.
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Does my water currently meet total coliform standards?
While the EPA bacteria standard was not achieved, your water is still a safe and potable water source and all other recent water quality tests have been satisfactory.
What are the possible health effects of exposure to E. coli?
E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.
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Why am I receiving this notice?
The EPA requires JEA to issue a public notice any time the bacteria standard is not met.
When does JEA issue this type of notice to customers?
JEA issues a public notice to inform our customers of any potential water quality health concerns as soon as we become aware of a potential problem.
Where can I obtain additional information?
Customers may contact JEA’s Customer Care Center at (904) 665-6000 or wtrqual@jea.com via email for additional information concerning this notice or write to JEA - Water Quality, 1002 Main Street North, Jacksonville, Florida 32206.
Customers may also contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Potable Water Section at (904) 256-1700.
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