Atlanta water main rupture: homes and businesses with little to no water

ATLANTA — The city’s Watershed Management Department is investigating several major water main breaks in Atlanta Friday that are causing widespread problems across the city.

It all started early Friday, just after 8 a.m., when a disruption occurred in the Vine City neighborhood near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P. Brawley Drive.

The department said the break occurred when three different pipes come together and carry a large amount of water within the city to different areas. This caused water outages and low water pressure across much of downtown.

However, more than 12 hours after the first rupture was reported, the department is now responding to reports of multiple additional ruptures in other parts of the city within a few miles of the original rupture, but watershed officials said it doesn’t appear they are connected. It is unclear whether the boil water advisory already in effect will be extended.

11Alive follows some of them below:

In Atlanta Watershed’s latest update Friday evening, officials said they are investigating a potential water main break at 1190 Atlantic Dr. NW, near Atlantic Station.

Atlanta Watershed crews are also investigating near the intersection of W. Peachtree St. NW and 11th St. NE.

11Alive’s Cody Alcorn is at the scene, next to the Eleventh Street pub.

11Alive’s Angelina Salcedo is also at the scene of the water main break in Midtown.

It was this break that crews initially responded to Friday morning. According to the department, this break occurs where a 36-inch water main meets another 48-inch water main in the Vine City neighborhood, near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and from James P. Brawley Parkway. It’s on the west side of the city and close to several major landmarks and attractions, including the Atlanta University Center, Georgia Tech, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The department said the break in the main, which carries a large amount of water to the city, is causing water outages and low water pressure in much of downtown.

Services at Atlanta City Hall, Grady Memorial Hospital and other public facilities and attractions have confirmed they are experiencing water issues. 11Alive has reached out to other area businesses to confirm outages or other impacts. See the full list here.

Video from the scene from 11Alive SkyTracker Friday afternoon showed the intersection flooded as crews attempted to repair the break.

In an update Friday evening, Atlanta Watershed officials provided the following statement on social media in reference to the water main break on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. There is still no estimated time frame for a full resolution.

Watershed management crews responded to the site and were “working aggressively” to repair the break affecting the service area, according to the department. Repairs were expected to begin at 5 p.m., the department said in a statement. But as of 6:30 p.m., 11Alive crews on scene said it appeared no work had started.

Al Wiggins of the Department of Watersheds provided an update Friday afternoon.

“We’re studying the maps to make sure we can do the repairs in the most efficient way possible,” Wiggins said. “In addition, we are giving our customers the opportunity to prepare for a potential outage announced at 5 p.m. I want to emphasize that there is a potential outage.”

Wiggins added that there may be times when water services are interrupted while crews work to make repairs. You can watch his full update below:

It appeared that the breach of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard was not the only water problem affecting the city. The department’s outage map also showed another potential problem off Glenwood Avenue SE on the city’s east side near the East Lake Golf Club. Watershed officials told 11Alive it had nothing to do with the Joseph E. Boone Boulevard breach.

Reports from residents online indicated entire buildings were without water, and others reported outages from Grant Park to the Poncy-Highland area.

Later in the afternoon, the Department of Watershed Management issued a boil water advisory for much of metro Atlanta and asked the public to restrict water consumption to allow pressure in the system to recover.

The boil water notice will remain in effect until the Georgia EPD authorizes the Department of Watershed Management to lift it after sampling and testing.

This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.

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