WINDEREMERE, Fla. – After a water main burst early Sunday in front of a busy Publix on Summerport Village Parkway, thousands of homes were left without water.
Sunday afternoon, the streets turned into lakes and homes were left dry in neighborhoods around Windermere and Winter Garden.
Orange County Utilities Department hopes to wrap up repairs on the line around midnight, but are encouraging families to boil their water.
Richard Wetmore, a Windermere resident, along with another 11,000 families, have been inconvenienced by the ruptured water pipe.
"I was actually in the shower when the water went off," said Wetmore.
Christie Johnson, who also lives in the affected area, said, "We were supposed to have a barbecue Sunday for Labor Day weekend."
Orange County Utilities has been trying to repair the 24 inches diameter pipe that burst just before noon, ripping through the sidewalk.
While water is back on, families in more than eight subdivisions are now on alert to boil their water.
Sunday evening, Local 6 saw people stocking up on bottled water at the neighboring Publix.
At Stromboli's New York Pizzeria, business was bustling because of the break.
Jay Snively manages the restaurant that neighbors the water main.
"It's been an upswing because people don't have any water," Snively said. "They can't wash their dishes, they can't cook at home, they have to boil water, so fortunately, I'm set, so I don't have to, so business picked up a little bit.It was an inconvenience, but we got through it."
Back at Wetmore's home, for the next 24 hours, he'll be working around the alert.
"Monday will be a whole different ball game, but what can you do?" said Wetmore.
Utilities Department is encouraging everyone who lost water to boil their water for at least a minute before using it for cooking or drinking.
Crews don't believe the water is contaminated, but just as a precaution the advisory is in effect for the next 24 to 48 hours in the following areas:
Orange County Utilities Customers in Windermere in the area
Bounded on the North by Lake Butler Blvd./Park Ave.
Bounded on the East by Apopka Vineland Rd.
Bounded on the West by State Road 429
and bounded on the South by Reams Road including subdivisions East of Reams Road and North of and including Lake Sheen Reserve along CR 535
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