More than 100,000 water customers in southwest Atlanta, South Fulton, Fairburn, and Union City were placed under a boil water advisory after a 12-inch main failed near Atlanta's Chattahoochee Water Treatment Plant, according to WAGA-TV.
Here's what to know
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management issued the notice after the break occurred near the plant at about 5 p.m. on Oct. 11.
Because that line fed the plant's process-water pumps, the outage cut seal pressure to those pumps and caused them to overheat, officials explained.
Hugh Smith, an assistant commissioner with Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management, said Hurricane Isaias was not to blame and pointed instead to the area's aging infrastructure.
People with little or no water service were instructed to boil tap water for one minute before using it and to stay away from public drinking fountains.
More background
For drinking, cooking, making baby formula, and brushing teeth, officials said residents should rely on bottled water or another safe source.
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The city warned that babies, seniors, and immunocompromised residents may need extra safeguards, particularly because interrupted water service can complicate meals, medications, and hygiene routines.
Restrictions stayed in effect until testing showed the system was safe again, meaning the repair alone wasn't enough to end the advisory without samples and formal approval.
Even after pressure returned, the city water authority could not officially clear the system for normal tap water use.
What's being done?
Before crews began collecting samples, they finished repairs to the main and restored system pressure to above 20 pounds per square inch.
Officials described that pressure as a key part of recovery, adding that they targeted lifting the advisory once recovery work and sampling were complete.
Officials lifted the advisory for some residents on Oct. 13 and for all remaining areas by Oct. 14.
Customers were told to visit the Watershed Management Department's website and enter their address to check whether their property was within the advisory area.
Residents in the affected zone were instructed to boil water for at least one minute if they experienced low pressure or no service, and to use bottled or otherwise safe water for essential needs for the duration of the advisory.
Where can I learn more?
Atlanta's boil water advisory shows how quickly a water system can be disrupted. These stories examine contamination scares and other pressures affecting drinking water systems nationwide.
• In New Orleans, officials declared an emergency over saltwater intrusion threatening drinking water.
• In New York City, invasive species are threatening the watershed behind its famed tap water.
• The EPA warned that forever chemicals in drinking water pose widespread health risks nationwide.
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