City officials in Atlanta announced that repairs on a burst water main were completed on Tuesday, signaling the end of water issues that had persisted for five days.
On Tuesday night, officials confirmed that new pipes had been installed to address the leak that had flooded parts of Midtown. They reported that water service had been restored to a bar and a nearby hotel, with plans to gradually increase pressure throughout the system.
They anticipated that normal water pressure would be restored by Wednesday morning, although a boil-water advisory remained in effect for downtown, Midtown, and eastern areas.
Mayor Andre Dickens, speaking at the site of the damaged pipe, expressed relief: “Making progress. (I’m) so ready for this to be over. So are the residents around here.”
By Monday afternoon, the boil-water advisory area had significantly shrunk as water pressure improved following repairs made on Saturday to the initial major leak west of downtown.
Atlanta firefighters unload water bottles (Via Jeff Clark/Shutterstock)
On Tuesday, water service was only disrupted in the immediate vicinity of the repair site, but some hotels, offices, and residences in taller buildings across a wider area were still affected. Reduced water pressure meant challenges like non-functional toilets on upper floors and impaired air conditioning systems.
Norfolk Southern Corp. had to partially close its headquarters building located about eight blocks away from the repair site.
Despite ongoing issues such as low pressure and discolored water at Georgia’s state office complex downtown, Gerald Pilgrim from the Georgia Building Authority assured that “all systems are functioning at safe levels.”
Brian Carr from the Midtown Alliance acknowledged varying experiences with water service and pressure among buildings in the Atlanta district.
