DeKalb Water Main Fix Could Take 24 Hours

DECATUR, GA — It could take 24 hours or more to fix a massive water main break in DeKalb County that caused water outages and low water pressure throughout the county, officials said.

"As soon as humanly possible," DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond said when asked when the break would be fixed. "We hope to have this resolved within the next 24 hours."

DeKalb was under a boil-water advisory Wednesday after the break near Buford Highway in Doraville, which flooded parts of the highway north of Interstate 285 early Wednesday morning. Residents were being urged to conserve water when possible.

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The break happened before 4:30 a.m. on a 48-inch transmission main near 5718 Buford Highway in Doraville, according to DeKalb County officials.

At an 11 a.m. news conference at Doraville City Hall, Thurmond and other officials blamed some type of structural failure for the break. They said the water main is relatively new and age is not believed to be a factor in the break.

Shortly before 9 a.m., City Schools of Decatur announced they would be closed Wednesday due to the break and DeKalb County Schools announced plans to release students later in the morning.
"In an abundance of caution for our citizens and to protect the public from any potential health hazards, residents in the affected area are being asked to boil water for at least one minute after water comes to a rolling boil prior to drinking, cooking or preparing baby food," DeKalb County said in a news release. "Residents are advised to conserve water."

All DeKalb County offices were scheduled to close at 11 a.m. and public safety and emergency workers were notified to follow emergency staffing plans.

DeKalb County crews Wednesday morning had located and isolated the source of the water main break. DeKalb County’s water plant was pumping water at full capacity Wednesday morning, but the plant was experiencing low pressure.

At about 8:40 a.m., officials said there was no water at the DeKalb County Police Department headquarters in Tucker. The DeKalb fire department was working with other agencies to deal with low water pressure in the Buford Highway area.

The release schedule for DeKalb County public schools Wednesday is:

• Elementary schools: 10 a.m.
• High schools: 11:15 a.m.
• Middle schools: 12:15 p.m.

"Lack of water service impacts sanitary conditions, food preparation and many aspects of business at the school and district levels," DeKalb County School District said in a statement. "The scope of the water main impact outpaces the district's ability to provide alternative solutions."

Around 10 a.m., DeKalb County announced the following:

• Senior centers will close at noon.
• DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs recreation centers will be closed for after-school programs.
• Exchange Recreation Center will be closing at noon.
• DeKalb WorkSource’s Returning Citizens Expo has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners canceled several meetings scheduled for Wednesday, including a Committee of the Whole, Finance, Audit and Budget Committee and Public Works and Infrastructure Committee meetings.

At DeKalb Medical Center, the hospital was still operating, but elective surgeries had been canceled for the day. Water tankers from around the state had been brought in as backup for DeKalb County firefighters and hospitals.

Officials were hopeful that flooding on Buford Highway would soon be under control.

"Hopefully by rush hour, we'll have Buford Highway back open again," Thurmond said.

For updates on the situation, residents were being encouraged to visit the DeKalb County website.

Photo courtesy DeKalb County government