Fort Myers Treeline Avenue area, including Treeline Elementary, under a boil water notice

Bill Smith, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·2 min read

Some Fort Myers residents, businesses and a school were told Wednesday to boil water before use due to a broken water main.

The city of Fort Myers issued a Boil Water Notice for the area running along Treeline Avenue from near Forum Boulevard to Daniels Parkway. The notice was still in effect Thursday morning.

The notice states that a water main break had been identified, and water users are advised to boil water for cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and washing dishes. Those affected should bring water to a rolling boil for one minute or use bottled water.

The area covered by the boil water notice includes the same area that was affected by a water main break last October.

What area of Fort Myers is affected by the boil water notice?

About 22,000 people were impacted by the break in the city's largest water line, Andrea Guerrero, Fort Myers interim public information officer, said in a news release.

The area affected includes:

  • Forum

  • Promenade East and West

  • The Colonnades

  • Cypress Legends

  • Colonial Country Club

  • Treeline Elementary School

  • Pelican Preserve

  • Botanica Lakes

  • Bridgetown

  • Marina Bay

  • Arborwood

  • Somerset At The Plantation

  • Legacy Gateway

A boil water notice was issued on Feb. 21, 2024 for the areas shown on this map provide by the city of Fort Myers.
A boil water notice was issued on Feb. 21, 2024 for the areas shown on this map provide by the city of Fort Myers.

When will the Fort Myers Boil Water Notice be lifted?

Bacterial testing started Wednesday night and a second test was expected at noon Thursday.

"Two test have to be taken on two consecutive days," Guerrero said. "Depending on those results the water boil notice can be lifted."

Check the city's web site or sign up for AlertLee notices for updates.

What happened to cause the Boil Water Notice?

The city said the break happened on Treeline just north of Treeline Elementary.

"The break is in our 24-inch line, which is the biggest line in the city," a city statement, issued late Wednesday morning, said.

By Thursday morning, the crews had repaired the break and were cleaning up the mud and debris left by flooding; 800,000 gallons of water were lost.

"As a result there was about 6 inches of mud which all had to be removed," Guerrero said.

One northbound lane on Treeline Avenue was open by Thursday morning; the other remained closed.

The city recognized the break around 9 a.m. Wednesday when water pressure dropped in the area.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers issue boil water after large water main break near school