CORTEZ – A water service interruption for water main tie-in work, beginning on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. and scheduled to end by 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, continued well beyond that scheduled deadline in Cortez and the southern half of Bradenton Beach.
Water service was restored in Bradenton Beach before 11 a.m., but full service was not restored in Cortez until close to 4 p.m., according to some residents there.
Because of the interruption in service, multiple businesses announced Friday closures on social media. Those businesses included the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach, and Cortez Kitchen and Tailgatin Sports Tavern in Cortez.
The Drift-In on Bridge Street remained open Thursday night by having ice, canned soda and portable restrooms delivered ahead of time.
On Friday afternoon, before water service was restored, Manatee County delivered two pallets of bottled water to the Florida Maritime Museum parking lot for Cortez residents.
According to Manatee County Communications Coordinator Tina Saldana, the extended water shutoff was caused by unexpected challenges.
“Manatee County Utilities scheduled a temporary water service interruption beginning Thursday, November 12, at 9 p.m. to complete a water main tie-in,” Saldana wrote in a Nov. 13 email to The Sun. “During the work, the contractor encountered unexpected challenges with pipe alignment, requiring additional restraints to safely secure the large water main before restoring pressure to the system. These complications extended the original anticipated restoration time.”
Water service was first restored to customers along Gulf Drive, south of Cortez Road, according to Saldana, who said the contractor crews then continued working to restore service to the remaining customers between Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach and 119th Street West in Cortez.
“During the water main tie-in, the contractor encountered unexpected challenges with pipe alignment that required additional work to safely secure the line,” said Nickolas Wagner, deputy director of Manatee County Utilities. “Our priority is making sure the system is properly secured and air is safely removed before restoring full water pressure. Taking these additional precautions helps prevent potential damage to homes and businesses.”
The overall affected area included customers west of 119th Street West on both sides of Cortez Road, across the Cortez Bridge to 501 Gulf Drive North, and all customers south of the Cortez Bridge to the Longboat Pass Bridge.
Customers affected by the water shutoff were placed under a precautionary boil-water notice that was expected to last 24-48 hours. Updates can be found at the county’s water notice webpage.
