Lido Shores Water Main Break Cuts Service

Portion of broken water pipe in the intersection of Morningside Drive and Center Place.

A water main break at the intersection of Morningside Drive and Center Place interrupted service to Lido Shores late Wednesday afternoon, September 28. A water department spokesperson on the scene said the Sarasota Natural Gas Utility, better known as TECO, struck a six-inch main while installing new natural gas lines. The break caused the street to flood with nearly a foot of water from the break site to the beach access gate on Westway. Water service was restored about 5:30 p.m.

Flooding from broken water line on Morningside Drive.

The City of Sarasota issued a Notice of Emergency Water Service Shutdown to make the necessary repairs to the main line. A large utility crew with a backhoe spent the afternoon  digging up the street and reconnecting the broken line.

The Water Department is advising everyone to boil any water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes. The Precautionary Boil Water Notice will remain in effect until bacteriological testing has been completed. A Rescission Notice will be issued at that time.

For more information, you can call the Utilities Division of the Public Works Department at 955-2325 or after 5:00 p.m. at 955-4838.  ~BT

Utility crew uses a backhoe to dig up street.