Fort Lauderdale issues precautionary waterway advisory for section of Intracoastal Waterway following nearby sewer overflow

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The City of Fort Lauderdale has issued a precautionary waterway advisory for a section of the Intracoastal Waterway after an overflow occurred at a nearby sanitary sewer manhole. The advisory is effective immediately and asks residents and visitors to avoid water-related recreational activities in the affected area until testing confirms that conditions are safe.

The impacted section of the waterway is located south of the E. Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge. City officials said the advisory is being issued as a precautionary measure following the sewer overflow and will remain in place while water quality monitoring continues.

The boundaries of the affected area include E. Oakland Park Boulevard to the north, NE 27th Street to the south, NE 30th Avenue to the west, and NE 33rd Avenue to the east.

Officials are advising the public not to swim, fish, use jet skis, paddle-board, kayak, canoe, or take part in any other recreational activities involving contact with the water within the advisory zone. The restriction is intended to reduce potential health risks while city crews monitor the situation and collect water samples.

According to the city, water sampling will be conducted every day in the affected area. The precautionary advisory will remain active until testing results show satisfactory conditions and officials determine that water activities can safely resume.

Read also: Mandel Public Library to host fourth annual Community Resource Marketplace connecting residents with essential local services

The city is encouraging residents and visitors to follow the advisory and avoid entering the affected portion of the Intracoastal Waterway during this period. Officials said additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available and as testing progresses.

Residents who have questions or need additional information can contact the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Customer Support Center. Assistance is available by calling 954-828-8000, sending an email to [email protected], using the FixItFTL app, or visiting the city’s online service portal.

The city also reminded residents about the importance of staying informed during emergencies and unexpected situations. Through Alert FTL, a free emergency notification program, the City of Fort Lauderdale can quickly share important information with the public through phone calls, text messages, and emails.

Read also: City of Hollywood preparing to launch expanded Accela online permitting platform to simplify access to city services

Residents who want to receive emergency updates are encouraged to sign up for Alert FTL to stay informed about issues that may affect their neighborhoods, including safety advisories, weather-related events, and other urgent announcements.

For now, officials are asking the public to remain cautious and avoid recreational water activities in the designated advisory area until the necessary testing is completed. The city will continue monitoring the waterway and will provide updates once conditions have been reviewed and the advisory can be lifted.