Lawtey residents are back to boiling their tap water after a chlorine-system problem in the city’s water supply put the town under a precautionary notice starting July 20. City officials say crews have repaired the chlorine system, but until lab tests on water samples come back clean, everyone on the City of Lawtey system is being told to boil water before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes, or to stick with bottled water instead.
What the notice says
In a post shared by Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith on Facebook, the City of Lawtey announced that the precautionary boil-water notice took effect July 20 and confirmed that "the chlorine system problem has been repaired." The Facebook post also notes that residents will be contacted once laboratory results confirm the water is safe to drink and the advisory can be lifted.
How to keep water safe at home
The Florida Department of Health advises residents to bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least one minute to inactivate most waterborne organisms and says a boil-water notice will stay in place until a satisfactory bacteriological survey clears the system. Guidance from the Florida Department of Health also spells out the sampling procedures and public notification rules that utilities must follow before they can officially rescind an advisory.
Local context
This is not the first time Lawtey’s taps have come with fine print. The city issued a precautionary notice after a June 12 water main break on U.S. 301, and another boil notice in October 2025 was linked to a pump or pump-system failure. Coverage by Action News Jax and WCJB notes that while repairs often restore water service quickly, the required testing can keep boil notices hanging around for several days.
Where to get help and updates
Residents with questions can turn to City Hall. The city’s public contact page lists Mayor Jimmie Scott, City Clerk Lisa Harley and the main municipal phone line as points of contact. The City of Lawtey page also provides the city’s mailing address, and the original notice included a fax number and an email address for direct inquiries. For quick updates on the advisory and word on when it is lifted, officials are posting to Sheriff Gordon Smith’s page on Facebook.
