A six-inch water main break at 990 Bay Esplanade on Clearwater Beach has shut down a key stretch of the waterfront road and left some nearby properties dealing with low water pressure or no water at all. Clearwater Public Utilities crews are on scene, cutting off the damaged section of pipe to isolate the break and restore service as quickly as they can. While they work, the shutdown affects the block of Bay Esplanade between Bruce Avenue and Laurel Street, and city officials have issued a precautionary boil-water notice for several addresses in the area. Tourists and beachside businesses along the corridor should be ready for short-term service disruptions while repairs are underway.
According to the City of Clearwater Government, crews shut down the six-inch main and isolated the break at 990 Bay Esplanade to start repairs. The post, published Tuesday, notes that the shutdown runs from Bruce Avenue to Laurel Street and that a precautionary boil-water notice is in place for multiple Bay Esplanade addresses and one property on Carlouel Drive. The city urged residents and businesses to keep an eye on official channels for updates as crews work to bring water pressure back to normal.
Where service is affected
The shutdown isolates the section of Bay Esplanade between Bruce Avenue and Laurel Street, and customers along that block may see low pressure or a temporary loss of service while the line is repaired. For a full list of affected addresses and live updates from the city, check MyClearwater's water-leaks page. The city typically alerts impacted properties with door-hangers and social media posts, and the precautionary boil-water notice will stay in place until pressure is restored and water samples test clear.
What residents and businesses should do
Under the precautionary boil-water notice, officials recommend using bottled water or boiled tap water for drinking, cooking, making ice and brushing teeth until tests confirm the system is safe. The Centers for Disease Control advises bringing water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (or 3 minutes at high elevations), then letting it cool before use; see the CDC for detailed guidance. Food service businesses should follow instructions from local health authorities and may want to rely on bottled water for food preparation until the distribution system is cleared.
Clearwater Public Utilities has not given a firm timeline for when repairs will be finished but said crews are on site working to isolate and fix the break so that pressure can be restored and water quality sampling can begin. For the latest status updates, customers are asked to monitor the city’s leaks page and social feeds or call Clearwater Public Utilities at (727) 462-6633; see Clearwater Public Utilities for contact details. This story will be updated when the boil-water notice is lifted and regular service returns.
