Palmetto Bluff residents, employees should boil water until Sunday. What happened?
Because a water pipe burst Thursday near a bridge along Old Palmetto Bluff Road, residents in Bluffton’s spacious Palmetto Bluff community will have to boil their water until at least Sunday, according to a spokesperson from Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority.
The full impact on the community’s drinking water is still unknown. Officials tested the water supply for harmful bacteria and expect results by Sunday afternoon, said BJWSA Director of Public Affairs Pamela Flasch.
Corrosion in the 18-inch pipe caused the water main break around 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Flasch said. The burst forced Palmetto Bluff, the largest community in Bluffton, to shut off its water supply and close restaurants until early Friday, according to Vice President of Operations Gray Ferguson.
Crews from J.H. Hiers Construction were still on scene repairing the pipe Friday morning.
Ferguson, reached by phone Friday, said the front entrance to Palmetto Bluff was closed for construction. Residents had to enter through the community’s construction gate.
Until BJWSA lifts the boil advisory, all Palmetto Bluff residents and employees should use boiled or bottled water when drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, preparing food and for pets.
In a press release, the agency described the advisory as precautionary. Low water pressure from a water main break may cause bacteria to seep into water pipes. The pipes may also suck dirty water back into the public water system, similar to a garden hose.
“Pretty impressed with BJWSA, and the swiftness that they were able to take care of this was awesome,” Ferguson said. “They were impressive.”
However, the location of the water break, near the headwaters of the May River, worries one environmental organization.
“We are concerned, especially knowing how much development is taking place at Palmetto Bluff,” said Jessie White, the south coast office director for the Coastal Conservation League.
“We want to make sure we understand what caused this and what additional precautions may be needed to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” she said.
How to purify your water
Until the boil advisory is lifted, here are tips from BJWSA on how to purify your water:
▪ If water does not appear to be clear, strain through a clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or floating matter. If water is clear, omit this step.
▪ Disinfection by heat:
- Boil the water vigorously for at least one minute.
- After the water cools, it is ready to use. If desired, add a pinch of salt to each quart of water, or pour it back and forth from one clean container to another several times, to improve the taste.
▪ Chemical Disinfection:
Use common liquid chlorine laundry bleach. Read the label to find the percentage of available chlorine and then follow the table below:
1. Mix thoroughly by stirring or shaking water in container.
2. Let stand for 30 minutes.
3. A slight chlorine odor should be detectable in the water. If not, repeat the dosage and let stand an additional 15 minutes before using.
4. Water is now safe for use.
