Janice R. Andrews
First June of 2024
Many homes and businesses in Midtown and Downtown Atlanta are still without water as a result of two significant water main breaks that occurred on Friday. Although repairs are being made, there is no indication of when complete water service will return.
According to the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, the breaches happened where three separate lines converged, causing major water outages and poor pressure throughout a sizable area of Downtown and Midtown.
Most recent updates:
11:04 a.m.: A spokesman notified 11Alive that the water main breaks are the reason behind the closure of the Children’s Museum Atlanta. On the Facebook page of the museum, information is shared.
10:28 a.m.: Commissioner of Atlanta Watershed Management Al Wiggins Jr. gave the following updates:
- There is no restoration schedule, but “significant progress” has been made on the repairs at the intersection of J.P. Brawley Drive and Joseph E. Boone Boulevard.
- The advice to boil water is still in force.
- Fulton City Jail is currently in use.
- Although they have poor water pressure, Grady Memorial and Emory Hospitals are still open and receiving patients.
- Services like 911 remain unaffected. For non-emergency assistance, call ATL 311.
- To begin repairs, crews must remove enough water from the work site.
Regarding the second break at West Peachtree Street Northwest, there were no updates given.
Closures and Modifications to Operations:
- Auburn Avenue Research, Central, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Louise Watley @ Southeast, Mechanicsville, Metropolitan, Washington Park, and West End are among the nearly ten Fulton County libraries that are closed today.
- Zoo Atlanta declared that they will not be selling fountain drinks or some snacks, and that water fountains and refill stations are not available.
Background: A break in the Vine City area near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P. Brawley Drive marked the beginning of the problem early on Friday, just after 8 a.m.Boil Water Advisory: The boil water advisory issued by the city is still in force. To prevent any contamination, residents should boil water for at least one minute before using it for cooking, drinking, or tooth brushing. This advice will remain in effect until safety is confirmed by water quality testing.
Impact on Businesses: A lot of establishments, such as eateries and retail establishments, are still dealing with outages, which have a negative operational impact. Consumers should inquire about the status with specific firms.
For additional information about closures, see here.
