Florida health officials have slapped no-swim and no-irrigation advisories on several waterways connected to the Intracoastal Waterway near Flagler Drive in West Palm Beach, after wastewater spills raised concerns about possible bacterial contamination. The alerts cover areas near Plymouth Road, Bunker Ranch Road and Summa Street, with a separate advisory issued for the intersection of Delphia Street and Dock Street, which connects to Pine Lake.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County issued the alerts, according to CBS12, warning people to steer clear of swimming or irrigating with water from the affected areas. The advisories will remain in place until more information is available about possible bacterial contamination in the water, the station reports. Importantly, the reported spills were not said to affect drinking water supplies.
Health Risks Tied to Fecal Bacteria Exposure
Water carrying high levels of fecal bacteria can lead to illness, infections or rashes, and the station's report notes that children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems should avoid any contact with the affected water altogether. Anyone who does come into contact with it is urged to wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking. The city of West Palm Beach is coordinating water testing and cleanup efforts with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, per the same account.
Residents with questions about potential health effects can reach the Palm Beach County Health Department at 561-837-5900, or 561-881-1888 after hours. The department can also be reached by email at [email protected].
A Separate Discharge Farther North in Fort Pierce
About an hour north, a Florida Department of Environmental Protection update detailed a separate situation at a Fort Pierce Utility Authority wastewater facility, which discharged about 5.6 million gallons of treated, chlorinated and then de-chlorinated effluent into the Indian River Lagoon through Nov. 4, according to the DEP update reported by CBS12. The facility paused those discharges for several hours Thursday morning before resuming them as flows increased. FPUA conducted daily sampling while the discharge continued and hoped to stop further releases Friday morning, per the DEP update.
The Fort Pierce discharge is a distinct situation from the Palm Beach County advisories, though both point to the ongoing strain on Florida's coastal wastewater systems. A 2025 report from Love the Indian River Lagoon counted 182 wastewater spills into or in areas leading to the Indian River Lagoon between August 2024 and August 2025. That same report found overall basin health unchanged in four of five lagoon basins, with water quality assessments holding steady across all five compared to the prior year — though the Central Indian River Lagoon's overall health improved from poor to okay even as its water quality remained the worst of any basin.
Fort Pierce's New Treatment Plant Still Coming Online
Fort Pierce held a ribbon cutting in January for its new Mainland Water Reclamation and Reuse Facility, but WQCS reported the broader project is still underway, with 17 separate projects planned to reroute wastewater flows while the new and old plants operate in parallel. FPUA estimated it could decommission the aging island facility by 2028 or 2029, once fully complete. The project, which cost about $140 million to design and build according to an FPUA spokesperson, is expected to eventually allow for up to 5 million gallons per day of reclaimed water.
Palm Beach County Has Seen This Before
This is not the first time Palm Beach County waterways have been closed off over sewage concerns. In a separate incident reported by WPTV, a 36-inch sewer line near Florida Mango Road ruptured after a contractor working with AT&T struck it, dispersing an estimated 3 million to 5 million gallons before the Lake Worth Utility District repaired the line four days later. The Palm Beach County health department lifted most of that alert on April 15, with the remaining locations later getting an all-clear after testing confirmed the water again met surface-water quality standards for fecal-indicator bacteria. Drinking water was not affected in that case either, WPTV noted.
A separate spill report covered by WPBF also warned residents not to swim or irrigate in the Intracoastal between Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and 45th Street, while noting that Clear Lake, Lake Mangonia and the West Palm Beach Water Treatment Plant were not affected. For now, officials have not said when testing will clear the Flagler Drive-area waterways, and residents are advised to check back with the health department for updates before resuming any contact with the water.
