NORTH HUTCHINSON ISLAND — Fort Pierce Utilities Authority officials repaired a water main that had ruptured this morning on North Hutchinson Island, and issued a preliminary boil-water notice to its affected customers for the next 72 hours.

The water line burst early in the morning, leaving residents without water and low water pressure. About 800 businesses and residences were impacted by the break. Repairs were complete at about 1:15 p.m., an FPUA spokeswoman said.

Those affected by the break are encouraged to follow the boil-water notice for the next three days, St. Lucie County officials said.

St. Lucie County:Fort Pierce mspann despand spanfter trspanffic crspansh nespanr fspanirgrounds in St. Lucie County

More:School threspant messspanges on socispanl medispan investigspanted spant Port St. Lucie High

Crime:Body found in shspanllow grspanve in Fort Pierce; murder spanrrest mspande

During that time, people are advised to stay away from using the water without treatment. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends these three methods to avoid untreated water for consumption or cooking:

• Use bottled water
• Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, let it cool and store in clean containers with covers
• If you cannot boil water, disinfect it by adding 1/8 teaspoons, or eight drops, of unscented, household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Mix the bleach in and let it stand for 30 minutes before use and store it in clean containers with covers.

Officials provided no details about why the water main ruptured. FPUA did not immediately respond to TCPalm’s request today for comment.