A water main break near Beach Boulevard and San Pablo Road South sent water pressure plummeting and flooded parking lots, sidewalks and roadways across the area, prompting JEA to issue a precautionary boil water advisory for Jacksonville customers Thursday afternoon.
JEA crews responded to reports of the break just before 4 p.m. Thursday, according to News4JAX. The utility said the break caused a drop in water pressure, which is what prompted the boil water advisory, as reported by Action News Jax.
JEA crews were working to isolate and contain the damage while also moving to repair the water main as quickly and safely as possible, the station reported. Action News Jax similarly noted that crews responded to the break that afternoon and were working to isolate it before repairs could begin.
Flooding Near the Break
Flooding was reported near the break.
What JEA Says Triggers a Boil Water Advisory
JEA says it is required to issue a boil water advisory whenever a water outage occurs, and the utility defines an outage as a drop in pressure below 20 psi in a transmission line, according to JEA. The utility notes that outages can stem from a break in a water main, planned repair or construction work, or unintentional accidents — a policy that applies regardless of which specific break triggers it.
Customers affected by Thursday's advisory were notified. On the broader monitoring front, JEA has said it performs around 45,000 water tests a year and continues testing under state and federal standards, according to First Coast News.
How Past Jacksonville Advisories Played Out
Boil water advisories tied to JEA main breaks have varied widely in scope and length in the past. One earlier Southside advisory affected more than 19,000 customers, per First Coast News' reporting. Another break prompted an advisory involving 25,000 customers in parts of Southside and Nocatee after a water main was repaired.
An advisory involving 25,000 customers in parts of Southside and Nocatee was lifted after a water main was repaired, according to News4JAX. The exact boundaries, customer count and expected duration of Thursday's advisory near Beach Boulevard and San Pablo Road had not been detailed as crews continued their work.
