Bradenton residents still relying on bottled water after Helene storm surge breaches drinking water

Bradenton officials say drinking water is safe to drink

BRADENTON — A week later, residents in Bradenton continue to rely on bottled water after Hurricane Helene’s storm surge breached the city’s drinking water reservoir.

City officials have said the water is safe but continue to distribute emergency water for residents concerned with the water’s salty taste or bad smell.

“Our water tastes bad in an undefinable manner,” resident William Price said. “Hard to pin down what the taste is but it’s not good.”

Price was among those who stopped to get some water at the distribution site at the Bradenton City Auditorium.

Last Friday, the city issued a water advisory for all residents saying that storm surge had breached the impoundment dam of the Braden River pushing the brackish, salt water into Evers reservoir, the city’s drinking water source.