4 days ago
Apalachicola officials stress patience amid water quality challenges
APALACHICOLA, Fla. (WMBB) – City officials say they're making progress on fixing the town's water quality issues. Residents have reported odorous and discolored water in their faucets since last fall.
'It smells like sewage. It's bad,' Apalachicola resident Elizabeth Russell said. 'Soon as I'm out of that shower, my whole back burns.'
For some business owners, the water issues are already affecting business. At the Half Shell Dockside Bar and Grill, customers can only receive bottled water and canned sodas. They're hoping the city-wide water problem doesn't affect the restaurant's reputation.
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'We've had to put out a post saying, like, it's just as unfortunate for us as it is for our guests. That, please don't fault us for the smell. Don't let it discourage you from coming in and sharing your business and dining with us,' social media manager Sierra Proctor said.
Water and sewage field crew supervisor Rhett Butler says the issue started after Hurricane Helene destroyed an odor scrubber aeration system.
'During Hurricane Helene, we think that the structure got damaged from the winds and everything and made it look, made it worse off, and then it crashed,' Butler said.
On Monday, the city confirmed a new odor scrubber is being fabricated and is expected to be completed in early July. They say the water is safe to consume.
'I know it's a hassle for everybody. It's a hassle for me. And nobody's more hurt about it than I am because I worked hard to get us back to where we need to be with the water system and everything,' Butler said.
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