Saturday, June 1
A second large main break is adding to Atlanta’s water woes, this time in Midtown.
Fox 5 News showed water gushing from the street near the corner of West Peachtree and 11th streets. Atlanta Police have blocked off a portion of West Peachtree, which appears to have caved in, while Atlanta Watershed crews work to fix the break.
Meanwhile, much of the city was already without water after a large water main break in Vine City on Friday morning. The break shuttered businesses, government offices, tourist attractions, and forced the postponement of Megan Thee Stallion’s concert at State Farm Arena.
Midtown had already been dealing with low water pressure because of the Vine City break, but it is unknown how this new break will affect residents and businesses in the area.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Friday, May 31
Water is off in a large swath of Atlanta, including Downtown, after a water main break on Friday impacted residents, closed businesses, and canceled events across the city.
The city’s Department of Watershed Management turned off water to a chunk of the city at 5 p.m. to repair a water main break on a 48-inch and 36-inch transmission line that “carries large volumes of water to the metropolitan area,” according to a news release.
There is no timeline for how long the advisory will be in effect or when water will be turned back on after repairs.
The department has been working all day on a main break near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Blvd. NW and James P. Brawley Drive. Crews also were working on water main breaks at 2922 Glenwood Ave. SE close to the East Lake Golf Course and 1236 E. Beechwood Drive NW in Buckhead.
The DWM issued a boil water advisory late Friday afternoon “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with Georgia EPD guidance for public advisory,” according to the release.
Those who experienced water outages and/or low water pressures on Friday are advised to boil all water, or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food, or brushing teeth.
The watershed department is asking people to only use water for critical uses to allow system pressures to rebuild. The boil water advisory will remain in place until DWM is cleared to lift it following sampling protocols.
DWM will follow its flushing protocols for the system as a precaution and has sampled the affected zones to affirm that there is no contamination in the system, according to the release.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will advise the DWM when the advisory can be lifted.
DWM Commissioner Al Wiggins told WSB-TV the department started receiving calls at 8 a.m. Friday about low water pressure issues. He said businesses and residents should prepare to be without water for an unspecified amount of time.
Grady Memorial Hospital canceled Friday’s appointments. Winship at Emory Midtown and Emory Proton Therapy Center in Midtown also canceled appointments and directed people needing immediate care to its Clifton campus.
Major tourist attractions including the Georgia Aquarium, College Football Hall of Fame and Zoo Atlanta closed Friday afternoon.
Megan Thee Stallion’s Friday concert at State Farm Arena has been postponed to Sunday, June 2. Her Saturday, June 1, concert at the arena is expected to go on as scheduled.
Several restaurants also locked up for the day due to lack of water, including Manuel’s Tavern in Poncey-Highland, The Wrecking Bar in Little Five Points, Staplehouse in Old Fourth Ward and Breaker Breaker in Reynoldstown on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail.
A representative from the Krog District, which borders the Eastside BeltLine in Inman Park, confirmed Krog Street Market would close early due to the water main break.
The food hall is a popular dining destination, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when it draws crowds from the BeltLine and tourists. The food hall includes nearly two dozen restaurants and businesses. Ticonderoga Club and Superica at Krog Street Market also announced closures.
Hop City Beer and Wine will remain open for purchases at the food hall until 8 p.m.
Across the street from the food hall at the Krog District, brewpub BrewDog closed for the day, while Glide Pizza closed for the remainder of the afternoon and evening at StudioPlex.
There were reports of no water at the State Capitol, Atlanta City Hall, and disruption at Grady Hospital.
Fulton County government closed its Downtown facilities, including the Fulton County Government Center and Courthouse, the Board of Health and several libraries.
Check back for updates.
Collin Kelley and Beth McKibben contributed to this story.
