HOLT, Fla., Oct. 24, 2025—The work crew installing fiber optics cable throughout Holt hit another water line yesterday afternoon that caused a water outage for residents south of U.S. Highway 90.

Past area line breaks could be fixed in a matter of hours; however, this one cracked the entire 20-foot length of 10-inch water main that runs the length of Wilkerson Bluff Road.

To make matters more complicated, the cracked main crossed under the asphalt roadway at the break point.

After four hours of digging yesterday by Holt Water field operator Daniel Quattlebaum and his son, Leo, with assistance from Baker Water, it became clear that the repair job was beyond the capabilities of Holt Water.

“As much as we hate to admit it, this one’s on us,” said Donna Ash, Holt Water manager. “And it’s a big one.”

Unlike past breaks, this mishap was not the fault of the fiber optics crew. They hit an unmarked line.

“This is the worst break we’ve had,” said Ash.

Auburn Water Services was called in to repair the broken line. A crew of five with excavation equipment arrived on site early this morning and began digging out the water line on both sides of Wilkerson Bluff.

The break affected water customers between 4600 Wilkerson Bluff Road to Calvin Carr Road.

Other customers were also affected, but it was due to a valving issue, not the break per se. In an effort to identify, localize and contain the break, valves were closed, cutting off water to a number of areas north of Interstate 10, including Durbin Lane, Elmore Lane and Suzanne Circle.

Once the affected lines were identified, those closed valves were reopened.

Auburn Water had the broken line removed and new line replaced by 1:30 p.m. Water was restored around 4:45 p.m.

However, as a result of the water break, all customers who were without water are under a precautionary boil water notice until at least Monday, the earliest Holt Water can get water samples back from the lab. Updates will be posted on the Holt Water Facebook page and website.

Fiber optics work has been going on in the Holt area most of this year. The crews have managed to break a dozen or more of marked water lines—both customer service lines and water mains—since work began.

In fact, another smaller line was broken on a different part of the service area around midday today while the Wilkerson Bluff repairs were being conducted.

Holt Water has billed the cable contracting company for repair work of broken lines that were clearly marked.