Fort Lauderdale Issues Precautionary Waterway Advisory After Sewer Overflow Impacts Intracoastal Waterway Area

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The City of Fort Lauderdale has issued a precautionary waterway advisory for a section of the Intracoastal Waterway after an overflow from a nearby sanitary sewer manhole raised concerns about possible water contamination.

The advisory took effect immediately and applies to an area south of the E. Las Olas Blvd. Bridge, including Lake Sylvia. City officials are asking residents, visitors, and boaters to avoid recreational activities in the affected waters until testing confirms that conditions are safe.

The impacted area is bordered by E. Las Olas Blvd. to the north, E. Lake Dr. to the south, Seabreeze Blvd. to the east, and SE 23rd Ave. to the west. The advisory covers a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway that is commonly used for a variety of outdoor activities.

As a safety precaution, the city is advising people not to swim, fish, jet-ski, paddle-board, kayak, canoe, or participate in any other water-related recreation within the restricted area. Officials said the temporary measure is intended to protect public health while crews monitor the situation and complete necessary testing.

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City officials will conduct water sampling in the affected area on a daily basis. The precautionary advisory will remain in place until test results show that water quality has returned to acceptable levels. Once satisfactory results are received, the city will remove the advisory and notify the public.

The sewer overflow prompted the city to take immediate action to reduce potential risks for people who use the Intracoastal Waterway for recreation. Officials emphasized that the advisory is a precautionary step while they gather additional information through ongoing water quality monitoring.

Residents who have questions or need additional information can contact the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Customer Support Center by calling 954-828-8000. Community members can also reach the city by emailing [email protected], using the FixItFTL app, or visiting the city’s official website.

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The city is also reminding residents to stay prepared and informed during emergency situations by signing up for Alert FTL. The free emergency notification system allows Fort Lauderdale officials to send important updates quickly through phone calls, text messages, and emails.

Through Alert FTL, residents can receive timely information about emergencies, public safety notices, and other important city updates. Officials encourage community members to register to ensure they receive notifications when urgent situations occur.

The City of Fort Lauderdale will continue monitoring the affected waterway and provide updates as additional testing results become available. Residents are encouraged to follow the advisory until the city confirms that recreational activities can safely resume.