Mayor declares state of emergency in Atlanta due to water main break

A state of emergency was declared in Atlanta on Saturday evening following two water main breaks, Mayor Andre Dickens announced at a press conference.

The massive disruption was reported Friday evening, resulting in a boil water advisory from the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.

We are “working around the clock to bring us safe drinking water in the city of Atlanta,” Mayor Dickens said.

“I know it has been a tough and frustrating day for many of you,” Dickens said. “We all take this matter very seriously.”

Of the two water main breaks, one had been fixed at the time of the presser, and water was currently being restored to those affected by the particular outage. Authorities are waiting for a part to arrive to fix the second main break, and the timeline to fix the break remains uncertain, officials said.

Grady Hospital and Emory University Hospital are accepting patients and are fully operational, having enough water to “keep people safe and healthy,” the mayor said.

Earlier on Saturday, prior to one of the water main breaks being repaired, Emory University Hospital Midtown rerouted ambulance traffic to other locations but urgent surgeries were able to continue, a spokesperson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The two major breaks occurred at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive, and one at 11th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NE.

The break at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive has been fixed, the mayor said. The Department of Watershed Management is building back pressure in the system so that those affected by this outage should be seeing their water restored now or soon, Dickens added.

The city expects to have 100 pallets of water delivered later this evening to disperse to those in need.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has declared a state of emergency in the city following a massive water main break that has left thousands of residents without water. The break, which occurred on Monday morning, has caused significant damage to the city’s water infrastructure and has created a major disruption in the daily lives of Atlanta residents.

The water main break occurred on the city’s west side, near the intersection of Howell Mill Road and Collier Road. The break has caused a massive water leak, flooding streets and causing damage to nearby buildings and homes. In response to the crisis, Mayor Bottoms has mobilized city resources to address the situation and ensure that residents have access to clean water.

The declaration of a state of emergency allows the city to access additional resources and funding to repair the damaged water main and restore water service to affected areas. It also enables the city to coordinate with state and federal agencies to provide assistance to residents who have been impacted by the water main break.

In a statement, Mayor Bottoms urged residents to conserve water and be patient as city crews work around the clock to repair the damaged water main. She also emphasized the importance of preparedness in the face of emergencies like this, urging residents to have emergency supplies on hand and to stay informed about developments through official city channels.

The water main break in Atlanta serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining and investing in infrastructure to ensure the reliable delivery of essential services like water. As cities across the country grapple with aging infrastructure and increasing demands on their systems, incidents like this underscore the need for proactive planning and investment to prevent future crises.

In the meantime, residents in affected areas are encouraged to stay informed about developments and follow any instructions or advisories issued by city officials. By working together and supporting one another during this challenging time, Atlanta residents can weather this crisis and emerge stronger on the other side.