Repairs to a major water main in Midtown at 11th and West Peachtree streets were still underway on Tuesday morning, June 4. (Photo by Beth McKibben)

Repairs to a major water main in Midtown at 11th and West Peachtree streets were still underway on Tuesday morning, June 4.

Credit: (Photo by Beth McKibben)

Repairs to a major water main break in Midtown continued on Tuesday morning as Atlanta’s unprecedented water crisis moved into a fifth day.

Just after 8 a.m., the City of Atlanta posted new photos from the repair site at 11th and West Peachtree streets showing the removal of an old corroded 30-inch pipe and the installation of a new one.

“Some of the remaining steps include completing the installation, making two taps, and pressurizing the line. Thank you for your continued patience and support,” the social media post said.

Commuters can expect detours around the area of 11th and West Peachtree as repair work continues.

A press released sent to local media just before 9 a.m. said city operations are running normally, including the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Municipal Court, the Atlanta City Detention Center and E911 operations. 

“Our critical infrastructure, such as Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory Midtown Hospital, is maintaining medium to normal pressure levels and remains fully operational. Fulton County Jail is also operating at normal pressure levels. Hotels are reporting normal conditions and are ready to accommodate their guests as usual,” the press released said.

The city also released a map showing the updated boil water advisory area in comparison to the original boundaries after the Vine City main break on Friday.

City of Atlanta map showing the updated boil water advisory area compared to the original boundaries after the main break.

Credit: City of Atlanta

Residents can also check if they are affected by the boil advisory using this interactive map.

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department continues to hand out water to residents who need it. One case of water, per household, can be picked up at the following stations:

  • Station 1
  • Station 2
  • Station 10
  • Station 11 
  • Station 15
  • Station 16

AFRD is also distributing water at the following locations today, June 4, from 9 a.m. to noon:

  • W. Peachtree and 10th
  • W. Peachtree and 12th
  • Peachtree Walk and 11th

Watershed Commissioner Al Wiggins told the Atlanta City Council on Monday that repairs could be completed by nightfall, but the night came and went without any further communication from the city. 

Atlanta Watershed and the city faced mounting criticism — even from members of the city council — about the lack of updates and communication to the public.

Wiggins also said Monday that additional parts had to be sourced from Gwinnett County and were being installed at the corner of 11th and West Peachtree streets, where the rupture sent a 10-foot geyser of water into the air for three days.

Since 1 a.m. on Monday, water has been shut off on 11th Street between West Peachtree and Peachtree Streets as well as a stretch of West Peachtree between 10th to 12th Streets.

The water outage is a lingering hangover from a weekend of water main breaks that made most of the city’s taps go dry, shuttering restaurants and businesses and postponing major events.

Mayor Andre Dickens appeared before the city council to discuss a “weekend like no other” and announced that he was calling in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist with Atlanta’s ongoing water crisis. 

He said the engineers would have “boots on the ground” Tuesday to identify and address the vulnerabilities of the city’s water system.

A “recovery fund” to assist small business owners impacted by the city of Atlanta’s water crisis is being established by the city.

Dickens told the city council that the new recovery fund would help small businesses “adversely affected” by the water woes that started Friday.

Councilmember Matt Westmoreland introduced the legislation to create the recovery fund. It calls for up to $5 million of city funds be transferred to Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development agency.

 

Ongoing closures and delays

Atlanta Public Schools has cancelled its summer school classes and programs due to the ongoing water issues. 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Norfolk Southern is limiting use of its headquarters building on West Peachtree Street near the intersection of Third Street to essential employees.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Rough Draft Atlanta.

Tags: Georgia  Atlanta  City of Atlanta  water main break  Midtown  water crisis  Boil water advisory  water  pipeline  vine city