Credit: Visit Tampa Bay

Credit: Visit Tampa Bay

Effective immediately, a citywide boil water notice has been issued for the City of Tampa.

According to a statement sent on Monday afternoon, a “third-party” hit a transmission main coming from the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility this afternoon. The plant is one of the largest surface water treatment plants in Florida.

In an effort to disinfect tap water to kill bacteria or viruses, the City of Tampa is urging everyone to boil any water for drinking or cooking, as a precautionary measure. 

On Tuesday morning, the City of Tampa announced that the boil notice is still in effect, and the repairs at the facility are expected to be completed sometime later today.


“Residents are advised to take the following precautions to disinfect tap water to kill any bacteria or viruses that may have entered the water,” says the statement. 

Directions from the City of Tampa: 

  • Bring the water to a rolling boil and holding it there for one minute. Aerate the boiled water by pouring it from one container to another several times to improve the "flat" taste left by boiling, then refrigerate for best results.
  • Use bleach if you cannot boil your water. Add eight drops (about 1/8th teaspoon) of  bleach for one gallon of tap water, shake, then let stand for 30 minutes before drinking. Use food grade containers and unscented common household bleach that has 5% to 6% active ingredients. If the water is cloudy, use16 drops, about ¼ teaspoon of bleach instead of 8. There should be a slight chlorine odor.
  • Use water purification tables or iodine that many sports and camping stores sell.

You can find out more about water boil notices here. 

Officials are also asking residents to cease all use of sprinkler systems and irrigation equipment until further notice. "This ban is intended to conserve the City's available water resources," says the city. 

In the meantime, Busch Gardens will remain closed on Tuesday, the park announced this morning. 


This is a developing story. 

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This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2020.

Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent...