United States: On Friday, a significant breach in the water main infrastructure in Atlanta resulted in extensive service disruption and a precautionary boil water notice across much of the metropolitan expanse.
The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) of the city communicated that their crews commenced repair operations at the juncture of Boone Boulevard and J.P. Brawley Drive in northwest Atlanta at 5 pm EST. Officials alerted that residents might encounter diminished water pressure, with service suspension in certain locales while rectifications are made to the ruptured 48-inch and 36-inch transmission lines, which are critical for channeling vast water volumes to the metropolitan area, according to the reports by Newsweek.
A boil water advisory was promulgated during the repair efforts as a precautionary measure, adhering to protocols set by Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD), according to a DWM statement. Residents were also implored to limit water usage to “essential purposes only” to aid in the restoration of system pressures.
“To safeguard public health against potential hazards, all residents and property owners who have experienced water disruptions or reduced pressure are advised to boil all water before consumption or to use bottled water for drinking, culinary activities, baby food preparation, or dental hygiene,” the DWM emphasized.
The advisory specified, “Water should be maintained at a rolling boil for at least one minute.”
It also urged caution for infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, advising against drinking from public water fountains in affected zones.
Authorities stated that vigorous hand washing or showering with tap water should be safe for basic hygiene; however, tap water intended for hand washing before food preparation should be boiled first.
Numerous offices and businesses, including Atlanta City Hall, the College Football Hall of Fame, and Fulton County government offices, shuttered on Friday due to the water main break, as reported by WAGA. Grady Memorial Hospital also postponed all elective, non-emergency procedures and appointments, as per Newsweek.
According to the Associated Press (AP), the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta ceased their operations early on Friday. Zoo officials reassured that contingency plans were in place to ensure that animals had access to water during the service interruption.
The boil water advisory will persist until DWM officials receive clearance to rescind it following the completion of sampling protocols. The state’s EPD will guide Atlanta’s watershed management officials on the appropriate time to lift the advisory.
Additionally, a separate six-inch water main near the Bobby Jones Golf Course in northern Atlanta was temporarily shut off around 7 pm EST on Friday for emergency repairs, according to an update from the department on X, formerly known as Twitter. This outage affected 40 residences and three fire hydrants, with service restored at approximately 8:21 pm EST.