TL;DR: Homes and businesses at 23 addresses on NE 51st Avenue in Hi-Cliff Estates should boil tap water for one minute or use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth under the Sept. 5, 2026 precautionary notice.
What officials confirmed on Sept. 5
Marion County Utilities issued a precautionary boil-water notice with an effective date of Sept. 5, 2026, according to the Marion County, FL (via Public) / Precautionary Boil Water Notice for Hi-Cliff Estates Area on 9-5-26 for Water Main Break & Valve Install.
The utility listed the cause as a water main break combined with a valve installation.
The action covers the Hi-Cliff communities, the utility stated in that Marion County notice.
Coverage is limited to properties on NE 51st Avenue, with 23 addresses named.
The release was distributed by Public on Sept. 5, 2026 at 10:36, as shown in the header of the Marion County notice.
The addresses named are 30, 50, 65, 80, 85, 100, 107, 140, 145, 150, 155, 180, 185, 200, 205, 230, 235, 250, 255, 290, 295 and 300 NE 51st Avenue.
That address list defines who should follow the notice, rather than the wider county.
The notice states that it remains in effect until further notice.
The utility said it will test the water and will advise customers when the notice is lifted.
Customer service can be reached at 352-307-6000 for questions, the notice states.
The same number is listed for updating a phone number on file for alerts.
Why a precautionary notice is used
A precautionary boil-water notice is a public advisory issued when work or damage affects a water main, according to the Boil Water Notices - St. Johns County guidance page.
That St. Johns County guidance explains that advisories are typically issued following a line break when contamination could have entered the supply.
The Marion County notice follows that pattern, linking the Hi-Cliff Estates action to a break and valve work.
No rescission had been announced in the Sept. 5 Marion County notice itself.
Residents should treat the notice as active until the utility announces test results showing the water is safe, as described in the Marion County notice.
The St. Johns County guidance similarly states that notices remain in effect until laboratory testing shows the water is safe and a retraction is posted.
That guidance notes that the waiting period is typically a minimum of two days.
Households outside the listed NE 51st Avenue addresses are not named in the Marion County action.
Renters, visitors and workers at those addresses should follow the same steps as residents named in the utility message.
Which water uses need boiling or bottled water
The Marion County notice directs all residents covered to boil water used for consumption until testing confirms safety.
Drinking water should be boiled or replaced with bottled water, the utility states.
Water used for cooking should be boiled or replaced with bottled water under the Marion County instructions.
Water used for brushing teeth should be boiled or replaced with bottled water under those instructions.
The notice uses the phrase drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, etc., signaling that other swallowed uses are included.
The St. Johns County guidance lists drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth and washing dishes as uses that should use boiled water first or bottled water.
Commercially bottled water may be used as an alternative, the Marion County notice states.
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach article titled Boil Water Advisory: Simple Steps to Stay Safe advises using boiled or bottled water for drinking and making drinks.
That Iowa State guidance also advises using boiled or bottled water for cooking and washing foods.
It advises using boiled or bottled water for brushing teeth.
It advises using boiled or bottled water when making new ice and discarding old ice.
That guidance advises against using water or ice from a refrigerator dispenser or ice maker during an advisory.
The St. Johns County guidance states that drinking the water is not advised during a precautionary notice.
It also states that brushing teeth with unboiled tap water is not advised and that people should not swallow water while the advisory is in place.
How to boil and store water safely
Water should be brought to a rapid boil for one minute before consumption, the Marion County notice states.
The St. Johns County guidance describes the same step as a rolling boil for one minute, then allowing the water to cool before use.
The Iowa State guidance likewise directs households to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute, then let it cool.
At higher elevations, the Iowa State guidance advises boiling for two to three minutes.
Homes should allow boiled water to cool before drinking or handling it to avoid burns.
Use clean, covered containers for cooled boiled water.
Label containers holding safe water so household members do not confuse them with untreated water.
Keep serving cups and utensils away from dirty surfaces.
Place safe water where people normally get drinks, so visitors and children do not use the tap out of habit.
Write down the utility name, affected area and start date from the Marion County notice and keep it near the safe-water spot.
Breastfeeding remains the best option for feeding an infant during advisories, based on widely shared public-health guidance summarized in official utility explanations.
Where formula is needed, ready-to-use formula is identified as an option when available in those public-health summaries.
Give pets commercially bottled water or cooled boiled water, according to utility public-health summaries.
Bathing, laundry and cleaning
Water used for laundry does not need to be boiled under the Marion County notice.
Water used for bathing does not need to be boiled under that notice.
Water used for showering does not need to be boiled under that notice.
The St. Johns County guidance states that bathing or showering can typically continue as long as water is not swallowed.
That guidance advises extra caution for people with open wounds, cuts, blisters or a compromised immune system, suggesting boiled-then-cooled water in those situations.
The Iowa State guidance advises avoiding swallowing water while bathing.
It suggests considering sponge baths for young children to lower the chance of swallowing water.
The Iowa State guidance states that it is safe to wash clothes as usual.
For dishes, the St. Johns County guidance states that household dishwashers typically do not reach temperatures high enough to kill microbes.
That guidance suggests waiting until the advisory is lifted to run the dishwasher, erring on the side of caution.
Where hand dishwashing is needed, public-health summaries recommend using boiled or bottled water for washing dishes and food-contact surfaces during the notice period.
Clean washable toys and surfaces with bottled water, boiled water or disinfected water, according to utility summaries of public-health guidance.
Tap water can still be used for houseplants and gardens, including watering edible plants, according to utility summaries of public-health guidance.
Filters, ice and refrigerators during the notice
Do not rely on a standard refrigerator filter, pitcher filter or faucet filter to make the water safe, based on official guidance.
The St. Johns County guidance states that filtered water is not advised because filters do not typically remove microbes.
The Iowa State guidance similarly advises boiling water even when a filter is used because most filters do not remove germs.
Discard ice already made before or during the notice period.
Do not use automatic ice makers until the notice is lifted.
The Iowa State guidance specifically advises making new ice only with boiled or bottled water after proper handling.
Keep refrigerator dispensers and ice makers off or clearly marked during the notice.
Sanitize baby bottles and use disposable plates, cups and utensils when possible during the advisory, according to utility summaries of public-health guidance.
What happens before the notice ends
Marion County Utilities said it will test the water in Hi-Cliff Estates.
Customers will be advised when the notice is lifted, the utility stated.
The St. Johns County guidance describes that clearance as satisfactory laboratory results followed by a posted retraction notice.
A change in water color, odor or pressure is not the clearance notice.
Keep boiling or using bottled water for swallowed uses until that utility clearance is announced.
After officials lift the advisory, the Iowa State guidance advises running all faucets for a few minutes to clear the lines.
Households can then return to normal tap-water use once that post-lift flushing is complete and the utility has confirmed safety.
Update contact information with Marion County Utilities so the lift message reaches the household.
Call 352-307-6000 to ask questions or to update a phone number, as listed in the Marion County notice.
Save the rescission message the same way the original Sept. 5 notice was saved, noting its effective date.
Household readiness checklist for the listed addresses
Confirm that the home or business address matches one of the 23 numbers on NE 51st Avenue named in the Marion County notice.
Share the notice with everyone in the household, including babysitters and overnight guests.
Set up one clearly labeled safe-water station for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth.
Keep bottled water or cooled boiled water stocked for those swallowed uses.
Plan meals that limit tap-water use while the notice remains active.
Keep soap available for handwashing and follow the local notice on permitted washing arrangements.
Turn off automatic fixtures that draw water unnecessarily if the utility advises conservation during repairs.
Document the date boiling started and keep receipts for bottled water if needed for household records.
Watch for the utility test announcement rather than assuming the water is safe after repairs look finished.
Contact Marion County Utilities at 352-307-6000 if instructions for a specific medical, infant or business food-handling need are unclear.