Today, the City of Fort Lauderdale lifted a precautionary water advisory that had been affecting water-related recreational activities in the Seminole River Canal and the Intracoastal Waterway. The area that was previously under advisory, spanning from SE 15th Street to the north and SE 17th Street to the south, and from Cordova Road in the west to the Intracoastal Waterway in the east, is now considered safe following a wastewater spill last weekend, according to the city's notice.
The advisory initially went into effect last Saturday, after a grease blockage caused wastewater to overflow into the stormwater system through an 8-inch sewer gravity main. Samples taken from the waterway have confirmed that the quality of the water is now meeting the state's standards for surface water, leading to the lifting of the restriction, as per the City of Fort Lauderdale.
Residents and visitors in the area are advised that all waterways are open for recreational use, including swimming, fishing, and boating, effective immediately. Concerned citizens looking for additional information or those wishing to report any issues related to the city services can reach out to the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Customer Service Center through multiple channels including a phone call to 954-828-8000, an email to [email protected], via the FixItFTL app, or online through the city's dedicated service webpage.
In the wake of this incident, Fort Lauderdale officials are also encouraging the public to sign up for Alert FTL; it's a free emergency alert initiative designed to rapidly disseminate crucial information through methods such as phone, text, and email in the event another unforeseen issue arises which might be a useful resource for timely updates, the sign-up process can be initiated at the city's website located at fortlauderdale.gov/alertftl.
