Water Crisis in Apalachicola

Question

The Tallahassee Democrat's lead story today describes the water crisis in Apalachicola and indicates it will be weeks before the water system is back to normal---No drinking water, boil before any use. Sounds dire.

So with this bad situation, are restaurants open? And the hotels?

I hate to sound shallow or unconcerned, but we'll be in the area in August and wondering if the situation is expected to be back to normal by then?

I do feel for the people of Apalachicola--we've been going there since the '80s and love the place.

Answer

Your concern is totally understandable — water crises like this are scary, especially when they affect a community you care about and plan to visit. Here’s the most up-to-date picture of what’s happening in Apalachicola, plus what to expect for restaurants, hotels, and how things might stand by August.

The Current Situation

As of June 28, 2025, Apalachicola officially rescinded its precautionary boil-water notice.
The city says they flushed the water system, stabilized chlorine levels, and have submitted bacterial (Bac-T) tests that meet Florida DEP standards.
Residents were advised to run cold water taps for ~5 minutes and flush hot water tanks to clear out any lingering odor.
There is still a planned “permanent fix” in progress: An odor scrubber/aerator was expected to be installed by late August.
That said, some residents are still skeptical. Reports from August indicate that while water quality has “settled down,” odor and taste issues sometimes remain.

Restaurants & Hotels

Many local restaurants have resumed normal operations now that the boil notice is lifted. For example, the manager of Half Shell Dockside confirmed to reporters that water is “clear” again and they’re using their soda machines and bar equipment.
Business owners say things improved dramatically by the Fourth of July, and restaurants were able to serve drinks, cook normally, and accommodate guests with confidence.
Hotels and lodging in Apalachicola are likely back to normal operations too, since the main health risk (boiling water) was removed. The resilience of the local infrastructure and efforts to remedy the issue suggest accommodations should be stable.

What About Visiting in August?

Given that the boil notice was lifted in late June and the city is implementing longer-term fixes, it’s reasonable to expect much more stable water by August.
According to the latest city weekly update (Aug 6, 2025), well rehabilitation is underway, and funding has been secured to upgrade all three drinking-water wells.
There is still some risk: the final odor scrubber/aerator was delayed, and as of August some residents still report slight odor.
If you stay there, you may want to bring or purchase bottled water just in case, especially early in your trip, but the situation is significantly improved compared to the worst of the crisis.

Bottom Line

Yes — the good news is that restaurants are open again, and hotel operations should be largely back to normal, since the boil-water advisory has been lifted and local businesses have confirmed water clarity is much better. The crisis hasn’t fully disappeared, but the city has made meaningful progress, and by August things are likely to be in much better shape.

If you’re planning to visit: it’s a more stable situation than it was during the peak of the crisis, but it would still be wise to stay flexible, check local updates before your trip, and perhaps plan to use bottled water for drinking or brushing just to be safe early on.

Water Crisis in Apalachicola

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