Aerial view of the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant. Credit: Photo via City of Tampa

After Hurricane Milton, Hillsborough County officials are asking residents to reduce water usage in their homes as the county continues to monitor water and wastewater systems.

According to a notice on the county’s website, there may be significant damage to the county’s water systems from the hurricane’s high winds and storm surge.

The county stated that while the drinking water system is operational, ongoing power outages in the area affect the pumping. If an outage is to occur, residents need to boil water and continue doing so for 48 hours.

A further notice on the site states, “If you are experiencing low water pressure in your home, the County is advising you to take Precautionary Boil Water measures in an abundance of caution. Crews are working on repairs that could take approximately 6-8 hours.”

As for the wastewater system, residents are encouraged to minimize “wastewater-producing activities” like bathing, showering, washing clothes, running the dishwasher and flushing toilets. Doing this will prevent wastewater backups into homes.

If your home or area is without power, it’s likely that your local water system is also without power, stated the county.

In Pinellas County, a similar notice is in order, as the county shut off drinking water late last night due to major water breaks from Hurricane Milton.

Crews are working to make repairs, and when water returns for areas, the pressure may be low. Like Hillborogh, a citywide boil water notice has been issued for all water customers. This includes St. Petersburg, Gulfport, South Pasadena and Lealman residents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to properly boil water, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute and allow the water to cool before use. More information can be found at CDC.gov.