The water and traffic is flowing again in Hallandale Beach after crews fixed a large water main break on the 1900 block of South Ocean Drive Wednesday.
The 8-inch break happened east of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at about 9 a.m., affecting water service in some 8,000 condo units, city officials said.
"It's incredible, first if all, we have no bathrooms, we have no AC," condo resident Valeirin Klopukh said.
The city issued a precautionary 24-hour boil water alert for all customers east of the Intracoastal Waterway.
“The safety of our residents is our first concern, that is why we are exercising an abundance of caution in issuing a 24-hour boil water order for all customers on the barrier island,” City Manager Renee Crichton said in a statement. “We will be working with the Broward County Health Department to test the water before lifting this precautionary boil water order.”
Crews raced to repair the broken water main for much of the day. The affected part of Ocean Drive was closed to traffic for at least five hours.
"A subcontractor that was working doing fiber optics actually struck an 8-inch water pipe here," Mayor Joy Cooper said.
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The underground damage made it uncomfortable for some residents left in steamy, sweltering conditions inside.
"Very inconvenienced, because, you know, we're not young people," resident Clara Klopukh said.
Klopukh, who is recovering from brain surgery and needs to drink plenty of water, said she and her husband only had a few bottles left at home. Fortunately, the water was turned back on by 3 p.m.
"We are actually, where we can, putting in valves so if it does break, or there's a water main break, not so many people will be impacted," the mayor said.
