LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (2024)

ATLANTA - Here is the latest information about the major water main breaks that have been impacting the City of Atlanta since Friday. Customers continue to be without water in a large part of northwest Atlanta, including downtown and Midtown Atlanta. A Boil Water Advisory is also still in effect.

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

10:59 P.M. The Fulton County Board of Health facilities at 10 Park Place in downtown Atlanta and at Adamsville Health Center, located at 3700 MLK Jr. Drive, will be closed to the public Wednesday due to the ongoing water disruption. Patients can go to the Neighborhood Union Health Center, located at 186 Sunset Avenue or College Park Regional Health Center, located at 1920 John Wesley Ave. Please call 770-520-7500 if you had an appointment that was impacted by this disruption to reschedule for a later date.

9:33 P.M. The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has set up an interactive map showing the current boil water notice area.

8:15 P.M. Repair work on the water main break at West Peachtree Street and 11thStreet reached a milestone on Tuesday after a 30-inch pipe was successfully lowered into the hole. Crews continue to work to restore service. The estimated time of completion is Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. A boil water advisory continues for a portion of the city.

6 P.M. A Midtown Atlanta business shared video of Friday's water main break shattering its front window and gushing hundreds of gallons of water into the building. Click here to watch the video

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (1)

5 P.M. Help may soon be on the way for many Atlanta businesses that report thousands of dollars in losses following a series of water main breaks.But some small businesses say they need help now.The mayor is setting up an emergency fund for businesses. Click here to read more

4 P.M. West Peachtree Street NE from 10th Street NE to 12th Street NE will be closed until repairs are complete. Click here for the detours.

11:23 A.M. Mayor Andre Dickens visited the repair site earlier in the day. Here he talks about what still needs to be done.

The Mayor visited the repair site earlier this morning and learned some of the remaining steps include: completing the pipe installation, making two taps, and pressurizing the line. pic.twitter.com/ZuF7JX91CG

— City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) June 4, 2024

10:40 A.M. The Fulton County Board of Health at 10 Park Place says it is still closed because of low water pressure.

8:30 A.M. Part of the damaged pipe that caused a series of water main breaks and a major boil water advisory has been removed and replaced.

Atlanta officials say the damaged pipe was removed around 2 a.m. on Tuesday and crews have placed the last section of the new 30-inch pipe into place.

The city shared photos showing the rusty and broken old pipe and its replacement ready for installation.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (2)

Crews are now working to complete the installation, make a pair of taps, and pressurize the line. The city has not shared a timeline for when they expect the installation to be finished.

"Thank you for your continued patience and support," the city wrote.

HAPPENING NOW: Here's a look at the progress crews are making at the site of the water main break on 11th street and Peachtree Street in Atlanta. @mteichnerfox5 has updates on @GoodDayAtlanta. #ATL #NEWS pic.twitter.com/Xm9limkFsz

— Billy Heath III (@BillyHeathFOX5) June 4, 2024

You can find out if your area is part of the reduced boil water advisory on the City of Atlanta's map here.

7 A.M. Atlanta Public Schools has canceled summer school and programs for a second day due to the city's water issues.

Summer School and programs are canceled today due to city-wide water main breakages. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we ensure the safety of our students and staff. For more information, please visit @cityofatlantaga pic.twitter.com/c0JfZUELto

— ATL Public Schools (@apsupdate) June 4, 2024

5:45 A.M. Help could be on the way for many Atlanta residents waking up again under the boil water advisory.

With thousands still having to boil their water to ensure its safety, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to help fix the broken water mains causing the crisis.

The mayor says the group has a lot of experience dealing with what he calls "a crumbling and aging infrastructure."

As the work on the repairs continues, Atlanta Public Schools has once again canceled its summer school and summer programs for Tuesday.

"We appreciate your patience and understanding as we ensure the safety of our students and staff," the school district wrote on X.

For residents living under the boil water advisory, the Atlanta Fire Department is giving away free cases of water at six of its fire stations.

You can always count on the members of AFRD to answer the call to serve. Atlanta residents affected by the outage can pick up ONE case of water per household at the following #AFRD Fire Stations:

-Station 1
-Station 2
-Station 10
-Station 11
-Station 15
-Station 16 pic.twitter.com/JWMZI8GPQz

— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) June 3, 2024

MONDAY, JUNE 3

10:13 P.M. Mayor Andre Dickens says the city will establish a financial relief program for businesses that have lost money during the water crisis. Work continues to be done to repair the damaged water main in Midtown.

9:53 P.M. According to Atlanta Watershed Management, repairs have been made to the water main break on Fairlock Lane NW.

The eight-inch water main has been turned back on after completing emergency repairs near 464 Fairlock Lane NW. Water service has been restored to 20 homes and one hydrant. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed pic.twitter.com/4GY1hjGvqM

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 4, 2024

9:25 P.M. City crews remained at the site of the water main break at 11th and West Peachtree late Monday, as they worked on repairs.

FOX 5 spoke with residents dealing with the boil water advisory in Midtown Monday. "A little bit irritating," said Garland Poindexter, who lives a block from the break.

Uren Patel says he lives and works in the affected area. "I do work a block away, they haven't lost water but again, things can change in a second."

"We had a difficult time interrupting water service to this particular location because the valve that would terminate service was directly under the geyser that you viewed over the weekend," said Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr., from The Department of Watershed Management.

City leaders say as of now, they do not believe the two breaks are connected. The city says it has not yet determined the cause of the Midtown main break.

6:52 P.M. The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has lifted the boil water advisory for the area affected by the water main break at Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and J.P. Brawley Dr. The advisory, initially issued on Friday, May 31, 2024, is no longer in effect for this area.

Sampling has confirmed that the city’s public water may be used for all purposes and does not require boiling. The City’s drinking water meets or exceeds standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as required by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has been notified.

However, an advisory remains in place for the Midtown area near West Peachtree and 11th Street and neighborhoods in East Atlanta. Residents in this area should continue to follow boil water precautions. To determine if your street is still impacted, you can visit the City of Atlanta's official website or call 311 for confirmation.

Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the current situation, stating, "We are currently coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We have sought their assistance because they have the most experience in handling a crisis like this. They will help us develop a plan to assess and evaluate our aging infrastructure." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have boots on the ground starting tomorrow.

For further updates and information, please refer to the City's website or contact 311.

6:45 P.M. Spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens releases a statement regarding the Mayor's trip to Memphis, Tennessee at the start of the water crisis.

"Mayor Dickens traveled to Memphis at the invitation of its Mayor. There he met with members of the Memphis City Council, state reps, and other business and community leaders. Following that meeting he did attend a fundraiser. The Mayor remained in constant communication with his leadership team while crews continued the repairs of our water system after these unprecedented breaks. When Mayor Dickens left Atlanta, the consensus was that the water main break was similar to the roughly 530 breaks or leaks that the City of Atlanta experienced over the last 12 months. It was not until late Friday evening, after repairs had been attempted, that the City learned the severity of the breaks. The Mayor flew back to Atlanta the next morning and was in Memphis less than 24 hours."

5:34 P.M. Atlanta Watershed Management has updated the impacted area for the boil water advisory.

🚨WATERSHED UPDATE - BOIL ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT FOR IMPACTED AREA🚨@atlwatershed has updated their map of the impacted area for the boil water advisory. If your residence or business falls within the boundaries of this new map, please continue to follow boil water protocols/1 pic.twitter.com/By6cwNZ56q

— Councilmember Liliana Bakhtiari (@LilianaforATL) June 3, 2024

3 P.M. Atlanta Watershed crews were dispatched on Monday afternoon to address a couple more trouble spots in metro Atlanta, which is not unusual. A status update has not been given on the situation in Midtown Atlanta since this morning's press conference.

The Department of Watershed Management is experiencing an interruption of water service near 464 Fairlock Lane NW. Crews turned off an eight-inch main to make emergency repairs. The outage is affecting 20 homes, and one hydrant. We will provide additional updates. #DWMatWork pic.twitter.com/R8nBonZqpo

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 3, 2024

The Department of Watershed Management crews’ team is investigating a potential water main incident near Clayton Road NE and Armour Drive NE . This incident could result in water disruption for residents and businesses in the area. We will provide additional updates. #DWMatWork pic.twitter.com/XBocp2lQBL

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 3, 2024

10:46 A.M.: In a press conference at the location of the Midtown water main break, Mayor Andre Dickens said the top priority is to restore water service to all residents and businesses.

Dickens said the repairs at the Midtown water main break at 11th and West Peachtree are still in progress. It took city employees multiple hours of work to turn off the water at the Midtown break.

Watershed Management Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr. later explained the Midtown water main break was challenging to shut off because the valve needed to stop water flow was located directly under the geyser. Leaders had to come up with an alternate method to protect infrastructure and minimize the interruption of water service. As crews work on repairs, water has been turned off from 10th Street to 12th Street and West Peachtree to Peachtree Street in Midtown.

According to the mayor, the water main break at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawleywas repaired Saturday evening. That is the first major break where three transmission lines intersected at the point of the break.

Atlanta COO LaChandra Burks explained that 14 of the city's departments have been pulled in to assist the Department of Watershed Management to restore water services and fix the breaks.

Atlanta Police Chief Dan Schierbaum thanked Georgia State Troopers, who he said escorted a vital piece of equipment needed to repair the breaks from Alabama. Then, Atlanta Police picked up the equipment at the state line and brought it to the city, the chief said.

Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick M. Smith said all Atlanta fire departments are providing full service at this time. Fire Station 15 in Midtown and Fire Station 11 in Atlantic Station will be open to provide water to citizens affected by the water main break.

When questioned by reporters, Wiggins said his department does not believe Atlanta's two major water main breaks to be connected at this time. He explained they have not done a thorough inspection of the area around the Midtown water main break due to how much water needs to flow through the area on a daily basis. Once his crews excavate the area, he said they hope to learn more.

Water pressure will continue to fluctuate for those living in high-rises around the area as crews turn off different valves and work on repairs. However, Wiggins explained that they have hyper-localized the repairs to avoid affecting more people than needed. When questioned, Wiggins could not give a timeline on when repairs would be complete. He said they are working on restoring service.

City leaders stressed calling 311 for water-related issues, and saving 911 for emergencies only.

7:15 A.M.: The city of Atlanta has shared new video of the repair work happening at the water main break on 11th and West Peachtree.

In the video, posted on X, formerly Twitter, Mayor Andre Dickens said the work has taken a lot of planning and required specialized parts brought in from Alabama.

"To the residents of Atlanta: We are on the case trying to solve this problem. Thank you for your patience! I know these water main breaks - the two big ones that we had - have been frustrating," Dickens said.

The mayor said that all of Atlanta will be "safe and sanitary soon." He did not give any details about when the boil water advisory may end.

Here’s a look from a visit to the site lastnight.
“ To the residents of Atlanta: We are on the case working to solve this problem. Thank you for your patience! I know this situation is very frustrating. pic.twitter.com/IO0hlueyAJ

— City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) June 3, 2024

5:45 A.M.: Atlanta Watershed Management crews are continuing their work to fix the water main break in Midtown while most of Atlanta remains under a boil water advisory.

Crews showed up early Monday morning hoping to finally put an end to what some call the "West Peachtree river."

City officials closed multiple mains overnight to work on the repairs, which were delayed by a wait for a needed part.

Drivers and pedestrians have been asked to stay away from the area until work is completed.

It's been more than half a day since Atlanta Watershed posted anything on X about the boil water advisory. There is still no timeline for how long it will last.

Due to the continued water issues, Atlanta Public Schools has canceled all its summer school and summer programs for Monday. Leaders say classes will resume once the boil water advisories have been lifted. All employees other than essential facilities staff will work remotely.

Fulton County's Board of Health says that several of its facilities will remain closed on Monday, including 10 Park Place, Vital Records on Pryor Street, the Center for Health and Rehabilitation on Boulevard, and the Neighborhood Union Health Center on Sunset Ave NW. Employees assigned to those locations will work remotely. All other locations will be open under normal business hours.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

5:19 P.M. UPDATE: Water service has officially been restored at Grady Memorial Hospital, and a spokesperson said the water pressure has increased significantly.

While patients and staff will continue to receive bottled water until the boil water advisory has been lifted, all appointments, procedures and surgeries are expected to return to normal operations on Monday.

"We are thankful for our team, who has gone above and beyond to ensure patient safety and to continue delivering exceptional care during this time," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We also appreciate the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management working to resolve this issue."

4:31 P.M. UPDATE: The Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) said several of its facilities would remain closed on Monday due to the disruption of water service.

Here are the impacted locations:

  • Grady Behavioral Health Center/Progressive Women's Healthcare at 10 Park Place

  • Vital Records at 141 Pryor Street

  • The Center for Health and Rehabilitation at 265 Boulevard

  • The Neighborhood Union Health Center at 186 Sunset Avenue NW

Employees assigned to work at those locations have been asked to work remotely, if possible.

All other FCBOH locations are expected to operate under normal business hours.

Those seeking Vital Records' services can still receive them at the College Park Health Center located at 1920 John Wesley Avenue in College Park.

The Board of Health said patients should call 770-520-7500 to reschedule any appointments impacted by the disruption.

4:11 P.M. UPDATE: The six-inch water main located near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE has been turned back on, restoring water service to 35 homes and four fire hydrants.

The six-inch water main has been turned on after the emergency repairs were completed near the intersection of Euclid Ave. NE & North Ave. NE. Water service has been restored to 35 homes and four hydrants. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed #ATLFireRescue pic.twitter.com/0EHJYw5OYI

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

3:30 P.M. UPDATE: An Emory University Hospital spokesperson told FOX 5 water was restored at the Midtown hospital Sunday afternoon, releasing the following statement:

"Emory University Hospital Midtown is moving to normal operations today, as water pressure returned to the hospital overnight -- following repair of several water main breaks in the City of Atlanta. Ambulances have resumed normal service at the hospital, as well.

"Tomorrow, we will operate on regular schedules for outpatient doctor’s appointments, procedures and surgeries.

"We will continue to provide bottled water to patients, visitors and staff while the hospital remains under a boil water advisory, like many of the affected areas in Atlanta.

"We thank our teams for their hard work and for the safe, quality care provided to our patients during this disruption. We also thank the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management teams for working around the clock to restore the water."

A spokesperson for the Fulton County Government said all county facilities would open as normal on Monday, June 3.

Public water fountains in some facilities will continue to be unavailable until the City lifts the boil water advisory.

3:01 P.M. UPDATE: A six-inch water main located near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE has been turned off for emergency repairs.

This outage will affect 35 homes and four hydrants.

Watershed Management officials said they would continue providing updates on the progress being made.

12:33 P.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Watershed Management said there is a potential water main break being investigated in the 1100 block Atlantic Drive NW that may cause a temporary disruption of service for residences and businesses in the area.

A potential water main break is being investigated near 1190 Atlantic Dr. NW.
It may result in a temporary disruption of water service for residences and businesses.
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed pic.twitter.com/tNw465yraK

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

The department reported emergency repairs on a break at this exact area had been completed Saturday night at 8:43 p.m., and that water service had been restored.

Emergency repairs have been completed near 1190 Atlantic Dr. NW. Water service has been restored to residences, businesses, and hydrants in the surrounding area. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed #ATLFireRescue pic.twitter.com/2FS1t80wHD

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

There is another potential water main break being investigated near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE.

12:21 P.M. UPDATE: Water has been fully restored to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Fulton County Jail, Atlanta City Detention Center, and some residential areas, including several senior high-rise buildings, according to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.

They also said Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena now have water service, meaning scheduled events will occur as planned.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Managementsaid it has begun sampling the affected zones in the Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley area to confirm there is no contamination.

The department also announced six designated stations where Atlanta residents can receive free water during the ongoing boil water advisory:

  • Station 1: 71 Elliott Street

  • Station 2: 1568 Jonesboro Road

  • Station 10: 447 Boulevard

  • Station 11: 165 16th Street

  • Station 15: 170 10th Street

  • Station 16: 1048 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard

The advisory will not be lifted until the Georgia Environment Protection Division gives the green light.

9 A.M. UPDATE: ZOO Atlanta will be open on Sunday. However, water fountains and refilling stations will not be available. Additionally, fountain drinks and some select food items also won't be available.

Zoo Atlanta will open as usual at 9 a.m. today. Please be advised that a Boil Water Advisory remains in effect for our area. Water fountains and water bottle refilling stations will not be available today, and fountain drinks and some other select concessions won't be available.

— ZooATL (@ZooATL) June 2, 2024

8 A.M. UPDATE: Water is still gushing in Midtown Atlanta.

Atlanta Watershed Management says that crews are still working on the broken water main at West Peachtree Street and 11th Street. Motorists and pedestrians should avoid the area.

UPDATE AS OF 06-02-2024 (8 A.M.)
Crews continue to make repairs to a broken water main at the intersection of W. Peachtree St. & 11th St. Crews continue to make progress while monitoring water pressures in the line. Motorists & pedestrians should avoid the area. #ATLWatershed

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

West Peachtree Street NE from north of 10th Street NE to 14th Street NE will remain closed indefinitely until repairs are completed.

Atlanta United has announced that it will hold its match against Charlotte FC today as scheduled.

There will be limited food and beverage options and fans are asked to use the hand sanitizing stations around the stadium.

Important information about today's #ATLUTD vs Charlotte FC match. pic.twitter.com/9PIDHbSvsD

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 2, 2024

7:01 A.M. UPDATE: DeKalb County is distributing water again today.

Beginning at 7am today, 6/2 - bottled water will again be distribute to DeKalb residents affected by City of Atlanta’s water main breaks at the Atlanta-DeKalb Human Services Complex, 30 Warren St, Atlanta. DWM, Human Services, Fire Rescue & Police Depts. are coordinating. pic.twitter.com/gi7dwhNX3P

— DeKalb Watershed (@DeKalbWatershed) June 2, 2024

4 A.M. UPDATE: A Boil Water Advisory is still in effect out of an "abundance of caution."

A boil water advisory is still in effect out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with GA EPD guidance. See boil water advisory tips here. For alerts, text “NotifyATL” to 888777 or visit https://t.co/PBOIjOP1Fz. #ATLWatershed

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

12 A.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Watershed Management says crews are working "aggressively" around the clock to make the repairs.

Crews will work thru the night to repair a water main on W. P'tree and 11th St. W. P'tree is closed between 10th & 12th St. Traffic control measures are in place around the work zone. Motorists and pedestrians should avoid the area. #ATLWatershed #DWMatWork #atlfirerescue pic.twitter.com/uFaRWqlQG6

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 2, 2024

Georgia Aquarium announced earlier in the evening that it would be open at normal hours on Sunday.

We will be open tomorrow, Sun. June 2 from 9am-9pm! Some amenities like water fountains and ice will be unavailable as we’re in a boil water advisory.

— Georgia Aquarium (@GeorgiaAquarium) June 2, 2024

State Farm Arena has announced that Megan Thee Stallion's Friday night concert will take place on Sunday night. The concert scheduled for Saturday night will take place on Monday, June 3.

pic.twitter.com/jCkgot2HLx

— State Farm Arena (@StateFarmArena) June 1, 2024

RELATED: Megan Thee Stallion Atlanta concert canceled minutes before doors open: 'They're playing with me'

The Children's Museum of Atlanta also announced that it will be open on Sunday.

SATURDAY. JUNE 1

9:45 P.M. UPDATE: A state of emergency has been declared by the City of Atlanta, according to Mayor Andre Dickens.

The state of emergency will allow the city to "access resources in an expedited fashion," according to Dickens.

6:58 P.M. UPDATE: After announcing that the downtown repairs were complete, The City said it is still implementing the following detours:

TRAVELING EAST ON JOSEPH E. BOONE BOULEVARD NW

  • Turn right onto Andrew J. Hairston Place NW

  • Turn left onto James P. Brawley Drive NW

  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW

  • Turn left onto Griffin Street NW

  • Turn right to continue east on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

TRAVELING WEST ON JOSEPH E. BOONE BOULEVARD NW

  • Turn right onto Griffin Street NW

  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW

  • Turn right onto James P. Brawley Drive NW

  • Turn left onto Proctor Street NW

  • Turn left onto Andrew J. Hairston Place NW

  • Turn right to continue west on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

TRAVELING NORTH ON JAMES P. BRAWLEY DRIVE NW

  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW

  • Continue straight across Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW

  • Turn right to continue north on James P. Brawley Drive NW

TRAVELING SOUTH ON JAMES P. BRAWLEY DRIVE NW

  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW

  • Continue straight across Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW

  • Turn left to continue south on James P. Brawley Drive NW

Any questions about the closure should be directed to the Atlanta Department of Transportation at atldot@atlantaga.gov.

EMERGENCY TRAFFIC ADVISORY FULL ROAD CLOSURES:

JOSEPH E. BOONE BOULEVARD NW FROM ANDREW J. HAIRSTON PLACE NW TO GRIFFIN STREET NW

JAMES P. BRAWLEY DRIVE NW FROM ORR STREET NW TO JONES AVENUE NW pic.twitter.com/d3dTamxlYK

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

6:45 P.M. UPDATE: Crews have completed multiple rounds of repairs on the aging pipe at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive in Atlanta, according to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.

"The system is gradually being brought back online to allow for the rebuilding of system pressures," a spokesperson for the department said.

The boil water advisory is still in effect out of an abundance of caution.

It's not yet clear whether the break reported in Midtown has been fixed yet.

6:30 P.M. UPDATE: State Farm Arena has canceled Megan Thee Stallion's Saturday night concert due to ongoing issues with the water main breaks. Learn more.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (3)

4:40 P.M. UPDATE: The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said crews made "significant progress" on repairs to the water main located at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive.

"We will begin pressurization of the system in the next few hours," a tweet from the department read.

4:40 p.m. Update:

DWM crews have made significant progress on repairs to the water main located at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Blvd and JP Brawley. We will begin pressurization of the system in the next few hours.#DWMatWork #ATLWatershed #ATLDWM pic.twitter.com/JyIy1DbuIP

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

4:23 P.M. UPDATE: An Emory Healthcare spokesperson told FOX 5 Atlanta some patients are being transferred to other facilities due to "significant disruptions resulting from the water main breaks in the City of Atlanta." The following operations have been affected:

  • The emergency department at Emory University Hospital Midtown remains on diversion for ambulance traffic, with the exception of patients having urgent heart concerns. Individuals who walk-in or drive to the emergency department are still being accepted and cared for as normal.

  • Some patients who need dialysis have been transferred to other Emory hospitals for treatment.

  • Most outpatient doctor’s appointments, such as oncology and radiology appointments, have been rescheduled today at Emory University Hospital Midtown, or have been shifted to another Emory location.

  • Emergent and/or urgent surgical cases will continue.

  • Some laboratory testing has been moved to other Emory hospitals.

  • To keep the hospital cool and air conditioning running, 58,000 gallons of water have been brought in via six tanker trucks to use in the hospital’s chillers and cooling towers. The water is being supplied by a local fire department and delivered by a tanker truck company.

  • Bottled water is being distributed to patients throughout the hospital for drinking and personal care needs.

  • The food services staff is following all CDC guidelines for ensuring safe food preparation, however the menus are limited for patients, visitors and staff.

"Our teams are working around the clock to care for patients during this challenging time," the spokesperson said. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this brings to patients, families and visitors."

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (4)

2:23 P.M. UPDATE: Mayor Andre Dickens, the Atlanta Police Department, Fire Department and the Department of Watershed Management addressed the media and the public's concerns in a press conference.

Dickens started off by apologizing for the department's lack of communication on the matter and the impact it has had on a series of weekend events planned around metro Atlanta.

"I will be candid. Overnight, we did not do the best job of communicating," the mayor said. "We could've done a better job over the past day, and for that, I apologize in how we have not been able to give you as much up-to-date information as possible."

He also said he had no definitive timeline for when the repairs would be completed, but did say they were experiencing unexpected delays.

When asked whether the highly-anticipated Megan Thee Stallion Hot Girl Summer Tour would go on Saturday night at State Farm Arena as planned, Dickens was frank.

"I would love to be able to be in a place where I could say right now definitively ‘yes’ or ‘no' that the concert could go on, that we would have enough, adequate, water pressure. Unless Commissioner Wiggins says so, it's not so," the mayor said.

He went on to explain that his priority was getting water to the area hospitals and seniors who need it.

"Let me just be clear that these people are working tirelessly. They are working as fast as humanly possible and as carefully as humanly possible to resolve this situation as quickly as possible," Dickens said.

Residents were asked to use 311 for their concerns, and not 91, as the repairs continue. The mayor said that moving forward, residents would begin receiving updates every two hours on how the repairs are going.

1:50 P.M. UPDATE: The City of Fairburn announced that there may be several water main breaks to lines that service their area, warning that residents and businesses may begin to experience low to no water pressure.

Anyone who experiences water service issues is asked to report them by calling 770-969-3481.

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has set up a bottled water distribution site for DeKalb County residents affected by the breaks.

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., bottles will be given out at the DeKalb County Human Services Complex located at 30 Warren Street in Atlanta.

1:23 P.M. UPDATE: The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management extended the boil water advisory they issued for metro Atlanta. They provided an updated map that shows the growing impacted area.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (5)

As the DWM continues their repairs at the intersection of Boone Boulevard and J.P. Brawley Drive, residents are still urged to boil any water prior to use, or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food, or brushing teeth.

The boil water advisory will not be lifted until the DWM is cleared following sampling protocols.

Click to open this PDF in a new window.

12:30 P.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced that he and other City leaders would be holding a press conference to address the status of the water main breaks and their repairs at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

FOX 5 Atlanta will stream this press conference live on FOX5Atlanta.com, Facebook, YouTube and the FOX Local App.

DWM Assistant Commissioner Reggie Wells briefs Mayor @andreforatlanta on the status of the main break.#ATLDWM #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed pic.twitter.com/nj5iilmETh

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

10:30 A.M. UPDATE: According to Atlanta Watershed, they have made significant progress on the water main break in the Vine City area near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P Drawley Drive. The break has reportedly been repaired and crews are now pressurizing the system slowly. They are doing it slowly to prevent additional damage and to check for leaks.

Al Wiggins Jr. with Atlanta Watershed said during a news conference Saturday morning that they understand the urgency, but they want to do the repairs in a manner that doesn't cause additional problems. Unfortunately, they are still unable to say when water service will be fully restored, but are hopeful it will be today. However, it is possible that the problem could continue into Sunday.

Wiggins also said that additional crews have been dispatched to repair the large water main break on West Peachtree Street and 11th Street and he is expecting significant progress on that break soon.

According to Wiggins, the break was caused by decay and corrosion and age of the system. He also said that the other smaller breaks that happened later in the day on Friday weren't associated with the initial break. However, they are reportedly working as quickly as possible to repair all breaks that may be impacting the City of Atlanta.

There are approximately 3,000 linear miles of water and sewer infrastructure in Atlanta, which is longer than the distance between Atlanta and San Francisco. Wiggins described the water system as a "fragile setup."

Grady Memorial Hospital also just issued the following statement:

Grady continues to experience low water pressure due to a water main break in City of Atlanta. However, we remain fully operational and our emergency room is accepting all patients. To ensure patient safety elective procedures remain canceled at this time. Hospital leadership and our facilities team are working directly with our care teams to ensure we maintain the same level of quality medical care for our patients.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect and Wiggins said that people who need bottled water can reach out to them.

ORIGINAL STORY

In the past 24 hours, Atlanta has been gripped by a series of water main breaks, disrupting the lives of thousands of residents, businesses, government offices, and attractions across the city.

The chaos began when a water main break occurred at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P Brawley Drive, leading to the closure of all attractions in downtown Atlanta last night.

UPDATE - FAQs: Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and James P. Brawley Water Main Break. #DWMatWork #ATLWatershed #atlfirerescue pic.twitter.com/ysxN5oqNpQ

— Atlanta Watershed (@ATLWatershed) June 1, 2024

The second incident occurred at the intersection of 11th and West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta. FOX 5 Atlanta was on the scene early Saturday morning as water continued gushing into the street.

The Atlanta Watershed Management has reported a second major water main break, this time in Midtown. MORE: https://t.co/ZN1207khJI pic.twitter.com/OaV7IzG8C3

— FOX 5 Atlanta (@FOX5Atlanta) June 1, 2024

Another potential break was reported on Atlantic Drive, further exacerbating the situation.

Water main break still leaking! 🫧🫧🌊🌊9:55am 6/1/24.
The was was mostly repaired but has started to leak out of the street patch already at 1190 Atlantic Drive, 30318 @AtlanticStation @ASCivicAssoc @ATLWatershed @ATL311 https://t.co/YY6iULjypl

— Buckhead Atlanta 🏅 (@iBuckhead) June 1, 2024

PREVIOUS STORIES

Residents living near the affected areas expressed frustration to FOX 5 Atlanta over the lack of water and uncertainty regarding when services would be restored.

Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management issued a Boil Water Advisory just after 2 p.m. Friday "out of an abundance of caution" after the first major break and halted water service at 5 p.m. Friday in much of Atlanta, including all of downtown, as part of the repair process.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY TIPS

What areas are impacted?

Affected areas originally included northwest Atlanta, downtown Atlanta, and East Atlanta.

By Friday night, into Saturday afternoon, that expanded.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (6)

Businesses and restaurants in Little Five Points, Downtown, Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, the West End, East Atlanta, Midtown, Inman Park and Candler Park were all forced to close due to water outages or low water pressure.

Water Service Outage Map

Closures and cancelations

Several MARTA stations were also impacted on Friday, including West End, Lakewood, Five Points, Georgia State, King Memorial, Inman Park, Candler Park, Bankhead and College Park. At 7:45 a.m. Saturday, they posted on social media that the same stations are still affected by the water outage.

Megan Thee Stallion's concert was canceled on Friday night and Georgia Aquarium was forced to close for the day. Grady Memorial Hospital and City Hall were also impacted.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, World of Coca-Cola and College Football Hall of Fame were also closed on Friday. It is also unknown at this time if they will be open Saturday.

Several Fulton County libraries were also closed on Friday and are closed again Saturday. Libraries include: Auburn Avenue Research Library, Central Library, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Louise Watley @ Southeast, Mechanicsville, Metropolitan, Washington Park and West End.

‼️ The following libraries within the City of Atlanta will be closed today due to ongoing water issues. https://t.co/f63NsAwcx6

— FultonCountyGeorgia (@FultonInfo) June 1, 2024

Georgia Aquarium posted on social media shortly before 9 a.m. that it will be closed Saturday. It was also forced to close on Friday.

Georgia Aquarium will be closed today, Sat June 1. The city-wide water issue is still affecting the Aquarium and many others in the area. This is not affecting our animals, but it is affecting our guest areas like restrooms.

— Georgia Aquarium (@GeorgiaAquarium) June 1, 2024

The Children's Museum of Atlanta announced their closure on Saturday due to the issues with water.

"While our exhibits are not affected, the recent water main breaks prevent us from operating until the water pressure is restored in our area," a spokesperson for the museum told FOX 5 Atlanta. "While we would love to see you in our museum today, the health and safety of the kids and caregivers who visit our museum is our most important priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, and we are happy to reschedule tickets for any future day within 90 days."

Those who need assistance are invited to contact Reservations at 404-527-3693 or email reservations@childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Megan Thee Stallion is also scheduled to perform at State Farm Arena on Saturday night.

Just before noon, the rapper posted on social media hyping up fans for the show.

GOOD MORNING ATLANTA HOTTIES 🔥🔥🔥🔥 lets have fun tonight 😜😜😜 pic.twitter.com/zp5274CTZU

— TINA SNOW (@theestallion) June 1, 2024

On Friday, State Farm Arena said that the concert was still scheduled to take place. However, fans should keep an eye open for any announcements.

pic.twitter.com/BQwyQ6Fwnv

— State Farm Arena (@StateFarmArena) May 31, 2024

The Carter Presidential Library has announced the museum will be closed Saturday because of the water issue.

Due to City of Atlanta Water Main Breaks, the Carter Museum is closed today, June 1. We apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/bXPUQ3CxKW

— Jimmy Carter Presidential Library (@CarterLibrary) June 1, 2024

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has also announced the cancelation of an event on Saturday.

Due to a series of water main breaks, in the City of Atlanta, as recently as this morning, the venue for the Women’s Empowerment Brunch does not have running water or air conditioning. For everyone’s safety, we must cancel today’s event. Refunds will be issued early next week!

— Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (@TheGroveAtlanta) June 1, 2024

And although ZOO Atlanta was forced to close early on Friday, they have announced they will be open on Saturday.

Zoo Atlanta will be open as usual at 9 a.m. today. To help you plan your visit, please be advised that the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has issued a Boil Water Advisory for our area. Please visit https://t.co/EV7ia8YKAX for more information. pic.twitter.com/7NYKSCK6we

— ZooATL (@ZooATL) June 1, 2024

A watch party for a women's soccer game at Fado Irish Pub in Midtown Atlanta is still on schedule at the moment. However, they are advising fans to keep an eye on social media.

As of now, our plan is still to hold the watch party this evening at Fado. But please be watching for updates regarding the water main break in Midtown. #USWNT #AOTL pic.twitter.com/QrLorPdV55

— AO Atlanta (@ao_atlanta) June 1, 2024

Atlanta United is scheduled to play Charlotte FC on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was also impacted on Friday. At this time, it does not appear that an announcement has been made related to the game. However, fans should keep an eye on social media and their inboxes in case repairs are not made in time and the game is canceled.

When will it be fixed?

Atlanta Watershed Management has not posted any updates on its social media accounts as of 8 a.m. Saturday. Their last post on social media was at 10:15 p.m. Friday night. Additionally, their website had been unavailable for several hours on Saturday. As of 1 p.m., it appeared it was back up and running.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (7)

It’s 8:41 am on Saturday, and your latest update on Atlanta’s water outage is from 10:15 pm on Friday. C’mon. This is not a water outage affecting 10 people. This is a city-wide crisis! Your customers - yes, customers - deserve more-frequent updates.

— Tim Millard (@TheTimMillard) June 1, 2024

At this time, it is unknown when the issues will be resolved.

Atlanta Watershed Management have been posting updates on its website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since Friday.

This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.

LIVE UPDATES: W. Peachtree Street closed for water pipe replacement in Midtown; boil advisory partially lifted (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5418

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.