Boil-water advisory affects three Collier County schools

Palmetto Ridge High School and homes nearby were without running water for most of Wednesday due to a water main break, and a boil-water advisory was in place until 3 p.m. Thursday.  

A 16-inch water main was damaged by a contractor about 10 a.m., causing the water shutoff in part of northern Collier County, said Margie Hapke, spokeswoman for the Collier County Public Utilities Division.  

The break in the water main was isolated, but water service had to be shut off to Palmetto Ridge High School and homes at Valencia Golf and Country Club and Orange Blossom Ranch.  

The water remained off at those locations until about 3 p.m. 

A boil-water advisory was issued for homes in the Waterways of Naples and at Corkscrew Middle and Elementary schools after the water main break, Hapke said.  

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The boil-water advisory will remain in effect until about 3 p.m. Thursday for Palmetto Ridge High School, Corkscrew Middle and Elementary schools, homes at Valencia Golf and Country Club, and homes in Orange Blossom Ranch and the Waterways of Naples.  

The advisory means water should not be consumed from those locations, but it still can be used for washing hands, doing laundry or showering, Hapke said.  

Any water that may be consumed should be brought to a full, rolling boil for at least one minute, Hapke said. Water from those locations will need to be sent to a lab and tested for contaminants before it can be consumed, Hapke said.  

Collier County schools were out Wednesday because of Yom Kippur. This meant the water shutoff and boil advisory did not cause much of a problem, said Jennifer Kupiec, Collier County Public Schools spokeswoman.  

For students returning Thursday, bottled water has been sent to the schools affected by the water issues.  

"We've already delivered pallets of water to the schools for their use tomorrow, and we will probably continue to do so for about 48 to 72 hours,” Kupiec said.  

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Boil-water signs will be placed on water fountains and all sources of potable water to ensure students do not consume any water while the advisory is in place, and hand sanitizer will be provided in the meantime, Kupiec said. 

Although no students were present at any of the three affected schools Wednesday, some teachers began their day at the buildings but headed to previously scheduled training sessions at Gulf Coast High School. Consequently, all three buildings affected by the water problems were empty most of the day, Kupiec said.  

A volleyball game was scheduled to at Palmetto Ridge High School for Wednesday evening, but Kupiec said bottled water was at the school before the game began.