{"id":259689,"date":"2026-05-05T20:30:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/259689\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T20:30:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T20:30:07","slug":"wow-drops-subcontractor-promises-new-oversight-after-repeated-longwood-water-main-breaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/259689\/","title":{"rendered":"WOW! drops subcontractor, promises new oversight after repeated Longwood water main breaks"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONGWOOD, Fla. \u2013 The sound of a concrete truck and a freshly repaired driveway are the latest signs of disruption in a Longwood neighborhood, where work to install underground fiber optic lines has led to yet another water main break \u2014 and another boil water notice for residents.<\/p>\n

It is the latest in more than a dozen incidents recorded so far this year in Longwood connected to underground utility work, according to the city manager. In April, he told News 6 three of them were \u201csignificant.\u201c<\/a><\/p>\n

The most recent break happened on Bearss Circle this week, where neighbors say crews have now struck the water main three times. Two of those times, Laura Barclay says her driveway was damaged. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time they hit it, it actually blew up the concrete out here pretty severely,\u201d Barclay said. \u201cI mean, it ruptured it. They had to come out and dig everything out. Took about two weeks to get everything back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

When it happened again, Barclay said her patience wore thin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time, I just, you know, things happen,\u201d she said. \u201cThe second time I did lose my cool and was not very, you know, very pleasant for the type of person that I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now on another boil water notice, Barclay said the impact on daily life is hard to overstate \u2014 especially for households with greater needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been on a boil water alert. I feel like sometimes we\u2019re living in a third world country,\u201d she said. \u201cWe can live without power, but water is definitely something different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barclay said she and her family have managed by eating out and skipping laundry \u2014 but she worries about others in similar situations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine if I had young children or something that I had to care for,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you had a lot of children, or an infant, you would be struggling to take care of your family when you don\u2019t have clean water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joanna Frommling, who also lives in the neighborhood, told News 6 the first time the water main was hit, the street flooded and the water was off for more than a day. When it happened again, Frommling said the outage lasted only a few hours \u2014 but the process was all too familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing it again it was like, \u2018Oh, no. Here we go again,\u2019\u201d Frommling said.<\/p>\n

Messages with the boil water notice were left on doors of affected homes in the area and the city of Longwood posted the following alert online:<\/p>\n

Due to a water main break at Bearss Circle caused by third-party utility work by WOW and their subcontractors during fiber installation, a precautionary boil water notice is now in effect for affected areas.<\/p>\n

As a safety measure, residents are advised to boil all water used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or making ice for at least one minute at a rolling boil.<\/p>\n

This notice will remain in effect until water quality testing confirms the system is safe. Updates will be provided as they become available. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as crews work to restore normal service and ensure water safety.<\/p>\n

NOTE: All affected areas received door hangers (physical notices) of this. If you did not receive this, and\/or were not affected by the water main break at Bearss Circle, then you are not affected. Thank you.<\/p>\n

Subcontractors working for Colorado-based WideOpenWest, known as WOW!, have caused disruptions in neighborhoods across Central Florida as they cut a path for underground fiber optics. In April, neighbors in Longwood\u2019s Hidden Oaks community reached out to News 6 after seeing our previous reporting in Altamonte<\/a>. <\/p>\n

After News 6 reached out directly, WOW! spokesperson Andrew Walton confirmed that a subcontractor cut the water line on Bearss Circle during construction work Monday morning.<\/p>\n

According to Walton, the onsite crew immediately contacted city officials to report the damage. The city shut off the water promptly, and restoration work at the affected property was underway and nearly complete as of the company\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe subcontractor responsible for the cut failed to meet our standards and will no longer perform work on our behalf,\u201d Walton said.<\/p>\n

WOW! also outlined two additional steps it is taking to prevent future incidents. Going forward, its contractor will assign a dedicated team member to oversee each crew working in the city right-of-way. WOW! will also provide its own onsite supervisors to verify the accuracy of utility locates and conduit routes \u2014 and to ensure all special digging instructions are carefully followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe apologize to the residents of Bearss Circle for the inconvenience this has caused,\u201d Walton said. \u201cWe are committed to ensuring that contractors working on our behalf complete all necessary repairs at this site and maintain the highest standards of work in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the city\u2019s fault, which I understand,\u201d Barclay said. \u201cBut it is frustrating. And you just want life to be back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

After previous incidents, the city told News 6 it is now taking a more proactive approach as well\u2014 testing water valves in any area where underground utility work is planned before digging begins.<\/p>\n

Frommling said the latest incident did seem less severe than the first and noted crews appeared better organized, with work zone signs posted at the end of the road and crews clearing out by mid-afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least this time it wasn\u2019t as bad as it was the first time,\u201d she said. When asked if that means something is improving, she replied: \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite everything, Barclay said she supports the expansion of fiber optic internet service \u2014 and has a message for other neighborhoods bracing for similar work.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m all for the options because we don\u2019t really have an option outside of Spectrum,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m good with that type of growth and those options to help lower those bills.\u201d<\/p>\n

But she urges neighbors to go in with realistic expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatience and expect delays,\u201d Barclay said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just going to be an easy process. It\u2019s not just going to be completed in one or two days. There are going to be hiccups along the way. So, maintain a sense of humor and just keep in contact if it happens to you \u2014 make sure that you\u2019re constantly following up so you get everything taken care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

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