Water woes continue in Atlanta after major mains break; much of the city under boil water advisory
ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) - Water main repairs are still happening in the heart of Atlanta more than 72 hours later after breaks left many without clean and running water for days.
This whole mess started Friday afternoon. So far, there have been two major water main breaks and a handful of smaller ones.
The water main breaks have affected several homes, office buildings, businesses and other public infrastructure.
On Friday, government buildings like the Georgia State Capitol, the Georgia Supreme Court and Atlanta City Hall were without water. Downtown Atlanta mainstays like the Georgia Aquarium, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, World of Coca-Cola and College Football Hall of Fame also closed.
Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown reported low water pressure and a water shortage, but service has since been restored, according to Wiggins Jr. Both hospitals were operating normally by Monday.
The issues have most of Atlanta under a boil water advisory.
City officials that they have no timeline on when the advisory will be lifted.
On Saturday night, Mayor Andre Dickens declared a state of emergency for Atlanta. Dickens said the declaration will allow the city to “access resources in an expedited fashion.”
Crews have been busy overnight Sunday working on water main repairs that are still affecting residents in Midtown.
One of those breaks caused damage in Midtown on 11th Street. When this break happened over the weekend, it busted out a window at the 11th Street Pub.
Repair work on West Peachtree and 11th Street on Monday will cause water interruptions, according to the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.
“We’d tried to flush it and it wouldn’t go, and the sinks are just like dripping until they’re empty, and we haven’t tried the showers, so I assume it won’t work. We can’t brush our teeth tonight,” said Andrew Hagan and Zenia Nava, who live in Midtown.
As far as traffic Monday morning, signs are posted to get drivers around the work area. Drivers and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area altogether.
As a result of the water issues, Megan Thee Stallion’s Friday and Saturday night shows at downtown’s State Farm Arena were postponed. The Friday show was rescheduled for Sunday and the Saturday show was rescheduled for Monday.
She blasted the city’s mayor over the postponements: “Call the mayor! All day they’ve been telling us we can perform,” the rapper said in a video she posted Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
Atlanta Public Schools has canceled its summer school and programs for Monday due to the ongoing water issues.
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