Two Days Without Water for Hundreds in Dunedin Condo Community

For two days, hundreds of residents at Royal Stewart Arms were without water.

Five of seven buildings in the 55-year-and-older condominium community adjoining Honeymoon Island had their water shut off at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after a leak was discovered deep underground.

"It's amazing what conveniences we get used to," resident George Nigro said Friday afternoon, joking about not being able to make his morning coffee.

The two buildings with water — Elgin and Forbes — were hooked-up hoses outside for their neighbors to fill jugs and buckets, according to an announcement from the property management company sent to the city.

One resident expressed to Patch some concern for some of the elderly residents carrying water back and forth between buildings.

"The City has offered to help to the extent needed," Doug Hutchens, city public works director, said.

But by Thursday afternoon, water was restored to the buildings.

Residents were kept informed of leak repair progress via residential email blasts.

Those notices reported that the leak was discovered where a storm sewer and drinking water pipe cross, and repairing it required the use of a backhoe.

Residents were encouraged to purchase bottled water or boil water before drinking it.

Dunedin fire officials were also reportedly aware that some hydrants on the property were down during the repair work.

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