Boil water advisory lifted in Atlanta after water main break repairs

Here is the latest information about the major water main breaks that have been impacting the City of Atlanta since Friday.

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

7:19 A.M. Officials have lifted the boil water advisory that has been in effect for the city of Atlanta since Friday.

Atlanta officials say sampling has confirmed that Atlanta's public water can be used for all purposes and does not require boiling anymore. 

According to the update from the city, testing has shown all of Atlanta's drinking water either meets or exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards.

6:00 A.M. Water services should be back to normal after crews made repairs overnight to the latest water main break in the city. 

On Wednesday night, crews did a test shutdown, impacting people in the Downtown Atlanta area from Bolton Road to Fairburn Road. The test, which was to evaluate the water system, has been finished.

Though water services have been restored, a boil water advisory remains in effect for some residents of Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and Downtown Atlanta. The advisory will ongoing until the city receives approval from the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection.

With repairs completed, Atlanta Public Schools's summer program will be back in session on Thursday. The school system says additional staff will be assigned to impacted schools and bottled water will be provided. 

In Cobb County, a water main has broken on Maple Drive in Acworth, sending water spilling out and shutting down the street. Crews are on the scene working to fix the issue.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5

10:06 P.M. Atlanta Watershed Management warned residents not to be alarmed if they see water flowing from a hydrant or down their street. The department is reportedly pressurizing water lines.

This means dirt and sediment may appear initially when water service returns. Learn more.

A potential water main break is under investigation in the 200 block of Richardson Street in southwest Atlanta.

9:56 P.M. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management crews are making repairs to a broken 12-inch water main on South Candler Street near Kirk Road.

Residents who experience low to no water pressure are asked to contact the DeKalb County Watershed Department at dekalbwaterops@dekalbcountyga.gov or 770-270-6243.

7:12 P.M. The Department of Watershed Management announced plans to shut down a 30-inch main at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Bakers Ferry Road in order to evaluate the water system.

The shutdown will begin at 12 a.m. on Thursday, June 6 and end at 4 a.m.

Customers from Bolton Road to Fairburn Road and the surrounding area may experience interruptions in service.

4:26 P.M. Crews have completed repairs to the six-inch main located at Clayton Road NE and Armour Drive NE.

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Six-inch main located at Clayton Road NE and Armour Drive NE. (Credit: Atlanta Watershed)

3:15 P.M. The DWM reported a potential water main break along Huntcliff Point. SKYFOX 5 flew over the area. The leak appeared to be minimal compared to the breaks reported across the city.

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Huntcliff Point water main break

7:33 A.M. Crews have completed repairs on the water main break at the intersection of West Peachtree and 11th streets, according to the City of Atlanta. Water has been restored to the Midtown area's residents and businesses. The system is slowly being brought back online to allow system pressures to rebuild.

RELATED NEWS: Atlanta water crisis sheds light on city's aging infrastructure

The boil water advisory is still in effect out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with Georgia EPD guidance for public advisory. 

DWM is following its flushing protocols for the water system as a precautionary measure and has tested the affected zones to confirm that the public water in the system is safe for all purposes. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will inform the Department of Watershed Management when the advisory can be lifted.

6:45 A.M. Atlanta officials say that they have successfully removed two of the three linestops connected to the once-damaged pipe section and are working to restore the water main pressure to normal.

The city posted on X photos showing the final repairs that are needed to restore water service.

5:30 A.M. Atlanta's six-day water crisis could soon be coming to an end.

Officials say they hope to have water flowing citywide by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, eventually canceling the boil water advisory affecting thousands of the city's residents.

On Tuesday, crews replaced a 30-inch pipe at the last major break in Midtown. Now workers are turning on smaller valves and back-filling the system.

Atlanta Watershed officials told FOX 5 the department was working on implementing a quality assurance team that will do more extensive repairs than in the past in order to prevent a crisis like this one from ever happening again.

While repairs continue, Atlanta Public Schools' summer school and other programs will remain closed at Midtown High School, Howard Middle School, Mary Lin Elementary School, Hope-Hill Elementary School, Springdale Park Elementary School, Whitefoord Inc., and Coan Middle School. 

Crews are also working on another water main break along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in southwest Atlanta.

One northbound lane of the road is closed while repairs are underway.

Officials say the incident is separate from the ongoing water issues in Downtown Atlanta. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 4

10:59 P.M. The Fulton County Board of Health facilities at 10 Park Place in downtown Atlanta and at Adamsville Health Center, located at 3700 MLK Jr. Drive, will be closed to the public Wednesday due to the ongoing water disruption. Patients can go to the Neighborhood Union Health Center, located at 186 Sunset Avenue or College Park Regional Health Center, located at 1920 John Wesley Ave. Please call 770-520-7500 if you had an appointment that was impacted by this disruption to reschedule for a later date. 

9:33 P.M. The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has set up an interactive map showing the current boil water notice area.

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Repair work continues on the 30-inch pipeline at West Peachtree and 11th streets on the evening of June 4, 2024.  (Atlanta Department of Watershed Management )

8:15 P.M. Repair work on the water main break at West Peachtree Street and 11th Street reached a milestone on Tuesday after a 30-inch pipe was successfully lowered into the hole. Crews continue to work to restore service. The estimated time of completion is Wednesday between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. A boil water advisory continues for a portion of the city. 

6 P.M. A Midtown Atlanta business shared video of Friday's water main break shattering its front window and gushing hundreds of gallons of water into the building. Click here to watch the video

The area of Atlanta under a boil water notice is in red on this map provided by the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management as of 5 p.m. on June 4, 2024.

The area of Atlanta under a boil water notice is in red on this map provided by the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management as of 5 p.m. on June 4, 2024. 

5 P.M. Help may soon be on the way for many Atlanta businesses that report thousands of dollars in losses following a series of water main breaks. But some small businesses say they need help now. The mayor is setting up an emergency fund for businesses. Click here to read more

4 P.M. West Peachtree Street NE from 10th Street NE to 12th Street NE will be closed until repairs are complete. Click here for the detours.

11:23 A.M. Mayor Andre Dickens visited the repair site earlier in the day. Here he talks about what still needs to be done. 

10:40 A.M. The Fulton County Board of Health at 10 Park Place says it is still closed because of low water pressure. 

8:30 A.M. Part of the damaged pipe that caused a series of water main breaks and a major boil water advisory has been removed and replaced.

Atlanta officials say the damaged pipe was removed around 2 a.m. on Tuesday and crews have placed the last section of the new 30-inch pipe into place.

The city shared photos showing the rusty and broken old pipe and its replacement ready for installation.

A comparison of the damaged pipe and its replacement. (City of Atlanta)

Crews are now working to complete the installation, make a pair of taps, and pressurize the line. The city has not shared a timeline for when they expect the installation to be finished.

"Thank you for your continued patience and support," the city wrote.

You can find out if your area is part of the reduced boil water advisory on the City of Atlanta's map here.

7 A.M. Atlanta Public Schools has canceled summer school and programs for a second day due to the city's water issues. 

5:45 A.M. Help could be on the way for many Atlanta residents waking up again under the boil water advisory.

With thousands still having to boil their water to ensure its safety, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to help fix the broken water mains causing the crisis.

The mayor says the group has a lot of experience dealing with what he calls "a crumbling and aging infrastructure."

As the work on the repairs continues, Atlanta Public Schools has once again canceled its summer school and summer programs for Tuesday. 

"We appreciate your patience and understanding as we ensure the safety of our students and staff," the school district wrote on X.

For residents living under the boil water advisory, the Atlanta Fire Department is giving away free cases of water at six of its fire stations. 

MONDAY, JUNE 3

10:13 P.M. Mayor Andre Dickens says the city will establish a financial relief program for businesses that have lost money during the water crisis. Work continues to be done to repair the damaged water main in Midtown.

9:53 P.M. According to Atlanta Watershed Management, repairs have been made to the water main break on Fairlock Lane NW.

9:25 P.M. City crews remained at the site of the water main break at 11th and West Peachtree late Monday, as they worked on repairs.

FOX 5 spoke with residents dealing with the boil water advisory in Midtown Monday. "A little bit irritating," said Garland Poindexter, who lives a block from the break.

Uren Patel says he lives and works in the affected area. "I do work a block away, they haven't lost water but again, things can change in a second."

"We had a difficult time interrupting water service to this particular location because the valve that would terminate service was directly under the geyser that you viewed over the weekend," said Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr., from The Department of Watershed Management.

City leaders say as of now, they do not believe the two breaks are connected. The city says it has not yet determined the cause of the Midtown main break.

6:52 P.M. The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has lifted the boil water advisory for the area affected by the water main break at Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and J.P. Brawley Dr. The advisory, initially issued on Friday, May 31, 2024, is no longer in effect for this area.

Sampling has confirmed that the city’s public water may be used for all purposes and does not require boiling. The City’s drinking water meets or exceeds standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as required by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has been notified.

However, an advisory remains in place for the Midtown area near West Peachtree and 11th Street and neighborhoods in East Atlanta. Residents in this area should continue to follow boil water precautions. To determine if your street is still impacted, you can visit the City of Atlanta's official website or call 311 for confirmation.

Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the current situation, stating, "We are currently coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We have sought their assistance because they have the most experience in handling a crisis like this. They will help us develop a plan to assess and evaluate our aging infrastructure." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will have boots on the ground starting tomorrow.

For further updates and information, please refer to the City's website or contact 311.

6:45 P.M. Spokesperson for Mayor Andre Dickens releases a statement regarding the Mayor's trip to Memphis, Tennessee at the start of the water crisis.

"Mayor Dickens traveled to Memphis at the invitation of its Mayor. There he met with members of the Memphis City Council, state reps, and other business and community leaders. Following that meeting he did attend a fundraiser. The Mayor remained in constant communication with his leadership team while crews continued the repairs of our water system after these unprecedented breaks. When Mayor Dickens left Atlanta, the consensus was that the water main break was similar to the roughly 530 breaks or leaks that the City of Atlanta experienced over the last 12 months. It was not until late Friday evening, after repairs had been attempted, that the City learned the severity of the breaks. The Mayor flew back to Atlanta the next morning and was in Memphis less than 24 hours."

5:34 P.M. Atlanta Watershed Management has updated the impacted area for the boil water advisory.

3 P.M. Atlanta Watershed crews were dispatched on Monday afternoon to address a couple more trouble spots in metro Atlanta, which is not unusual. A status update has not been given on the situation in Midtown Atlanta since this morning's press conference. 

10:46 A.M.: In a press conference at the location of the Midtown water main break, Mayor Andre Dickens said the top priority is to restore water service to all residents and businesses. 

Dickens said the repairs at the Midtown water main break at 11th and West Peachtree are still in progress. It took city employees multiple hours of work to turn off the water at the Midtown break.

Watershed Management Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr. later explained the Midtown water main break was challenging to shut off because the valve needed to stop water flow was located directly under the geyser. Leaders had to come up with an alternate method to protect infrastructure and minimize the interruption of water service.  As crews work on repairs, water has been turned off from 10th Street to 12th Street and West Peachtree to Peachtree Street in Midtown. 

According to the mayor, the water main break at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley was repaired Saturday evening. That is the first major break where three transmission lines intersected at the point of the break. 

Atlanta COO LaChandra Burks explained that 14 of the city's departments have been pulled in to assist the Department of Watershed Management to restore water services and fix the breaks. 

Atlanta Police Chief Dan Schierbaum thanked Georgia State Troopers, who he said escorted a vital piece of equipment needed to repair the breaks from Alabama. Then, Atlanta Police picked up the equipment at the state line and brought it to the city, the chief said. 

Atlanta Fire Chief Roderick M. Smith said all Atlanta fire departments are providing full service at this time. Fire Station 15 in Midtown and Fire Station 11 in Atlantic Station will be open to provide water to citizens affected by the water main break. 

When questioned by reporters, Wiggins said his department does not believe Atlanta's two major water main breaks to be connected at this time. He explained they have not done a thorough inspection of the area around the Midtown water main break due to how much water needs to flow through the area on a daily basis. Once his crews excavate the area, he said they hope to learn more. 

Water pressure will continue to fluctuate for those living in high-rises around the area as crews turn off different valves and work on repairs. However, Wiggins explained that they have hyper-localized the repairs to avoid affecting more people than needed. When questioned, Wiggins could not give a timeline on when repairs would be complete. He said they are working on restoring service.

City leaders stressed calling 311 for water-related issues, and saving 911 for emergencies only. 

7:15 A.M.: The city of Atlanta has shared new video of the repair work happening at the water main break on 11th and West Peachtree.

In the video, posted on X, formerly Twitter, Mayor Andre Dickens said the work has taken a lot of planning and required specialized parts brought in from Alabama.

"To the residents of Atlanta: We are on the case trying to solve this problem. Thank you for your patience! I know these water main breaks - the two big ones that we had - have been frustrating," Dickens said.

The mayor said that all of Atlanta will be "safe and sanitary soon." He did not give any details about when the boil water advisory may end. 

5:45 A.M.: Atlanta Watershed Management crews are continuing their work to fix the water main break in Midtown while most of Atlanta remains under a boil water advisory.

Crews showed up early Monday morning hoping to finally put an end to what some call the "West Peachtree river."

City officials closed multiple mains overnight to work on the repairs, which were delayed by a wait for a needed part.

Drivers and pedestrians have been asked to stay away from the area until work is completed.

It's been more than half a day since Atlanta Watershed posted anything on X about the boil water advisory. There is still no timeline for how long it will last.

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Due to the continued water issues, Atlanta Public Schools has canceled all its summer school and summer programs for Monday. Leaders say classes will resume once the boil water advisories have been lifted. All employees other than essential facilities staff will work remotely.

Fulton County's Board of Health says that several of its facilities will remain closed on Monday, including 10 Park Place, Vital Records on Pryor Street, the Center for Health and Rehabilitation on  Boulevard, and the Neighborhood Union Health Center on Sunset Ave NW. Employees assigned to those locations will work remotely. All other locations will be open under normal business hours.

SUNDAY, JUNE 2

5:19 P.M. UPDATE: Water service has officially been restored at Grady Memorial Hospital, and a spokesperson said the water pressure has increased significantly.

While patients and staff will continue to receive bottled water until the boil water advisory has been lifted, all appointments, procedures and surgeries are expected to return to normal operations on Monday.

"We are thankful for our team, who has gone above and beyond to ensure patient safety and to continue delivering exceptional care during this time," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We also appreciate the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management working to resolve this issue."

4:31 P.M. UPDATE: The Fulton County Board of Health (FCBOH) said several of its facilities would remain closed on Monday due to the disruption of water service.

Here are the impacted locations:

  • Grady Behavioral Health Center/Progressive Women's Healthcare at 10 Park Place
  • Vital Records at 141 Pryor Street
  • The Center for Health and Rehabilitation at 265 Boulevard
  • The Neighborhood Union Health Center at 186 Sunset Avenue NW

Employees assigned to work at those locations have been asked to work remotely, if possible.

All other FCBOH locations are expected to operate under normal business hours.

Those seeking Vital Records' services can still receive them at the College Park Health Center located at 1920 John Wesley Avenue in College Park.

The Board of Health said patients should call 770-520-7500 to reschedule any appointments impacted by the disruption.

4:11 P.M. UPDATE: The six-inch water main located near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE has been turned back on, restoring water service to 35 homes and four fire hydrants.

3:30 P.M. UPDATE: An Emory University Hospital spokesperson told FOX 5 water was restored at the Midtown hospital Sunday afternoon, releasing the following statement:

"Emory University Hospital Midtown is moving to normal operations today, as water pressure returned to the hospital overnight -- following repair of several water main breaks in the City of Atlanta. Ambulances have resumed normal service at the hospital, as well. 

"Tomorrow, we will operate on regular schedules for outpatient doctor’s appointments, procedures and surgeries. 

"We will continue to provide bottled water to patients, visitors and staff while the hospital remains under a boil water advisory, like many of the affected areas in Atlanta. 

"We thank our teams for their hard work and for the safe, quality care provided to our patients during this disruption. We also thank the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management teams for working around the clock to restore the water."

A spokesperson for the Fulton County Government said all county facilities would open as normal on Monday, June 3.

Public water fountains in some facilities will continue to be unavailable until the City lifts the boil water advisory.

3:01 P.M. UPDATE: A six-inch water main located near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE has been turned off for emergency repairs.

This outage will affect 35 homes and four hydrants.

Watershed Management officials said they would continue providing updates on the progress being made.

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1100 block Atlantic Drive NW

12:33 P.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Watershed Management said there is a potential water main break being investigated in the 1100 block Atlantic Drive NW that may cause a temporary disruption of service for residences and businesses in the area.

The department reported emergency repairs on a break at this exact area had been completed Saturday night at 8:43 p.m., and that water service had been restored.

There is another potential water main break being investigated near the intersection of Euclid Avenue NE and North Avenue NE.

12:21 P.M. UPDATE: Water has been fully restored to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Fulton County Jail, Atlanta City Detention Center, and some residential areas, including several senior high-rise buildings, according to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. 

They also said Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena now have water service, meaning scheduled events will occur as planned.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said it has begun sampling the affected zones in the Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley area to confirm there is no contamination.

The department also announced six designated stations where Atlanta residents can receive free water during the ongoing boil water advisory:

  • Station 1: 71 Elliott Street
  • Station 2: 1568 Jonesboro Road
  • Station 10: 447 Boulevard
  • Station 11: 165 16th Street
  • Station 15: 170 10th Street
  • Station 16: 1048 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard

The advisory will not be lifted until the Georgia Environment Protection Division gives the green light.

9 A.M. UPDATE: ZOO Atlanta will be open on Sunday. However, water fountains and refilling stations will not be available. Additionally, fountain drinks and some select food items also won't be available. 

8 A.M. UPDATE: Water is still gushing in Midtown Atlanta.

Atlanta Watershed Management says that crews are still working on the broken water main at West Peachtree Street and 11th Street. Motorists and pedestrians should avoid the area.

West Peachtree Street NE from north of 10th Street NE to 14th Street NE will remain closed indefinitely until repairs are completed.

Atlanta United has announced that it will hold its match against Charlotte FC today as scheduled.

There will be limited food and beverage options and fans are asked to use the hand sanitizing stations around the stadium.

7:01 A.M. UPDATE: DeKalb County is distributing water again today.

4 A.M. UPDATE: A Boil Water Advisory is still in effect out of an "abundance of caution."

12 A.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Watershed Management says crews are working "aggressively" around the clock to make the repairs.

Georgia Aquarium announced earlier in the evening that it would be open at normal hours on Sunday.

State Farm Arena has announced that Megan Thee Stallion's Friday night concert will take place on Sunday night. The concert scheduled for Saturday night will take place on Monday, June 3.

RELATED: Megan Thee Stallion Atlanta concert canceled minutes before doors open: 'They're playing with me'

The Children's Museum of Atlanta also announced that it will be open on Sunday.

SATURDAY. JUNE 1

9:45 P.M. UPDATE: A state of emergency has been declared by the City of Atlanta, according to Mayor Andre Dickens.

The state of emergency will allow the city to "access resources in an expedited fashion," according to Dickens.

6:58 P.M. UPDATE: After announcing that the downtown repairs were complete, The City said it is still implementing the following detours:

TRAVELING EAST ON JOSEPH E. BOONE BOULEVARD NW

  • Turn right onto Andrew J. Hairston Place NW
  • Turn left onto James P. Brawley Drive NW
  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW
  • Turn left onto Griffin Street NW
  • Turn right to continue east on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

TRAVELING WEST ON JOSEPH E. BOONE BOULEVARD NW

  • Turn right onto Griffin Street NW
  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW
  • Turn right onto James P. Brawley Drive NW
  • Turn left onto Proctor Street NW
  • Turn left onto Andrew J. Hairston Place NW
  • Turn right to continue west on Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW

TRAVELING NORTH ON JAMES P. BRAWLEY DRIVE NW

  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW
  • Continue straight across Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW
  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW
  • Turn right to continue north on James P. Brawley Drive NW

TRAVELING SOUTH ON JAMES P. BRAWLEY DRIVE NW

  • Turn left onto Jones Avenue NW
  • Continue straight across Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW
  • Turn right onto Orr Street NW
  • Turn left to continue south on James P. Brawley Drive NW

Any questions about the closure should be directed to the Atlanta Department of Transportation at atldot@atlantaga.gov.

6:45 P.M. UPDATE: Crews have completed multiple rounds of repairs on the aging pipe at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive in Atlanta, according to the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management.

"The system is gradually being brought back online to allow for the rebuilding of system pressures," a spokesperson for the department said.

The boil water advisory is still in effect out of an abundance of caution.

It's not yet clear whether the break reported in Midtown has been fixed yet.

6:30 P.M. UPDATE: State Farm Arena has canceled Megan Thee Stallion's Saturday night concert due to ongoing issues with the water main breaks. Learn more.

Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive

4:40 P.M. UPDATE: The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said crews made "significant progress" on repairs to the water main located at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive.

"We will begin pressurization of the system in the next few hours," a tweet from the department read.

4:23 P.M. UPDATE: An Emory Healthcare spokesperson told FOX 5 Atlanta some patients are being transferred to other facilities due to "significant disruptions resulting from the water main breaks in the City of Atlanta." The following operations have been affected:

  • The emergency department at Emory University Hospital Midtown remains on diversion for ambulance traffic, with the exception of patients having urgent heart concerns. Individuals who walk-in or drive to the emergency department are still being accepted and cared for as normal.
  • Some patients who need dialysis have been transferred to other Emory hospitals for treatment.
  • Most outpatient doctor’s appointments, such as oncology and radiology appointments, have been rescheduled today at Emory University Hospital Midtown, or have been shifted to another Emory location.
  • Emergent and/or urgent surgical cases will continue.
  • Some laboratory testing has been moved to other Emory hospitals.
  • To keep the hospital cool and air conditioning running, 58,000 gallons of water have been brought in via six tanker trucks to use in the hospital’s chillers and cooling towers. The water is being supplied by a local fire department and delivered by a tanker truck company.
  • Bottled water is being distributed to patients throughout the hospital for drinking and personal care needs.
  • The food services staff is following all CDC guidelines for ensuring safe food preparation, however the menus are limited for patients, visitors and staff.

"Our teams are working around the clock to care for patients during this challenging time," the spokesperson said. "We are sorry for any inconvenience this brings to patients, families and visitors."

Emory University

2:23 P.M. UPDATE: Mayor Andre Dickens, the Atlanta Police Department, Fire Department and the Department of Watershed Management addressed the media and the public's concerns in a press conference.

Dickens started off by apologizing for the department's lack of communication on the matter and the impact it has had on a series of weekend events planned around metro Atlanta.

"I will be candid. Overnight, we did not do the best job of communicating," the mayor said. "We could've done a better job over the past day, and for that, I apologize in how we have not been able to give you as much up-to-date information as possible."

He also said he had no definitive timeline for when the repairs would be completed, but did say they were experiencing unexpected delays.

When asked whether the highly-anticipated Megan Thee Stallion Hot Girl Summer Tour would go on Saturday night at State Farm Arena as planned, Dickens was frank.

"I would love to be able to be in a place where I could say right now definitively ‘yes’ or ‘no' that the concert could go on, that we would have enough, adequate, water pressure. Unless Commissioner Wiggins says so, it's not so," the mayor said.

He went on to explain that his priority was getting water to the area hospitals and seniors who need it.

"Let me just be clear that these people are working tirelessly. They are working as fast as humanly possible and as carefully as humanly possible to resolve this situation as quickly as possible," Dickens said.

Residents were asked to use 311 for their concerns, and not 91, as the repairs continue. The mayor said that moving forward, residents would begin receiving updates every two hours on how the repairs are going.

1:50 P.M. UPDATE: The City of Fairburn announced that there may be several water main breaks to lines that service their area, warning that residents and businesses may begin to experience low to no water pressure.

Anyone who experiences water service issues is asked to report them by calling 770-969-3481.

DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has set up a bottled water distribution site for DeKalb County residents affected by the breaks.

From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., bottles will be given out at the DeKalb County Human Services Complex located at 30 Warren Street in Atlanta.

1:23 P.M. UPDATE: The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management extended the boil water advisory they issued for metro Atlanta. They provided an updated map that shows the growing impacted area.

Boil Water Advisory Map updated on Saturday, June 1, 2024.

As the DWM continues their repairs at the intersection of Boone Boulevard and J.P. Brawley Drive, residents are still urged to boil any water prior to use, or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food, or brushing teeth.

The boil water advisory will not be lifted until the DWM is cleared following sampling protocols.

12:30 P.M. UPDATE: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced that he and other City leaders would be holding a press conference to address the status of the water main breaks and their repairs at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

FOX 5 Atlanta will stream this press conference live on FOX5Atlanta.com, Facebook, YouTube and the FOX Local App.

10:30 A.M. UPDATE: According to Atlanta Watershed, they have made significant progress on the water main break in the Vine City area near Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P Drawley Drive. The break has reportedly been repaired and crews are now pressurizing the system slowly. They are doing it slowly to prevent additional damage and to check for leaks.

Al Wiggins Jr. with Atlanta Watershed said during a news conference Saturday morning that they understand the urgency, but they want to do the repairs in a manner that doesn't cause additional problems. Unfortunately, they are still unable to say when water service will be fully restored, but are hopeful it will be today. However, it is possible that the problem could continue into Sunday.

Wiggins also said that additional crews have been dispatched to repair the large water main break on West Peachtree Street and 11th Street and he is expecting significant progress on that break soon.

According to Wiggins, the break was caused by decay and corrosion and age of the system. He also said that the other smaller breaks that happened later in the day on Friday weren't associated with the initial break. However, they are reportedly working as quickly as possible to repair all breaks that may be impacting the City of Atlanta. 

There are approximately 3,000 linear miles of water and sewer infrastructure in Atlanta, which is longer than the distance between Atlanta and San Francisco. Wiggins described the water system as a "fragile setup."

Grady Memorial Hospital also just issued the following statement:

Grady continues to experience low water pressure due to a water main break in City of Atlanta. However, we remain fully operational and our emergency room is accepting all patients. To ensure patient safety elective procedures remain canceled at this time. Hospital leadership and our facilities team are working directly with our care teams to ensure we maintain the same level of quality medical care for our patients.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect and Wiggins said that people who need bottled water can reach out to them. 

ORIGINAL STORY

In the past 24 hours, Atlanta has been gripped by a series of water main breaks, disrupting the lives of thousands of residents, businesses, government offices, and attractions across the city. 

The chaos began when a water main break occurred at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard NW and James P Brawley Drive, leading to the closure of all attractions in downtown Atlanta last night. 

The second incident occurred at the intersection of 11th and West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta. FOX 5 Atlanta was on the scene early Saturday morning as water continued gushing into the street. 

Another potential break was reported on Atlantic Drive, further exacerbating the situation.

PREVIOUS STORIES

Residents living near the affected areas expressed frustration to FOX 5 Atlanta over the lack of water and uncertainty regarding when services would be restored.

Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management issued a Boil Water Advisory just after 2 p.m. Friday "out of an abundance of caution" after the first major break and halted water service at 5 p.m. Friday in much of Atlanta, including all of downtown, as part of the repair process.

BOIL WATER ADVISORY TIPS

What areas are impacted?

Affected areas originally included northwest Atlanta, downtown Atlanta, and East Atlanta.

By Friday night, into Saturday afternoon, that expanded.

Map of the impacted area in Atlanta from water main break (Department of Watershed Management).

Businesses and restaurants in Little Five Points, Downtown, Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, the West End, East Atlanta, Midtown, Inman Park and Candler Park were all forced to close due to water outages or low water pressure.

Water Service Outage Map

Closures and cancelations

Several MARTA stations were also impacted on Friday, including West End, Lakewood, Five Points, Georgia State, King Memorial, Inman Park, Candler Park, Bankhead and College Park. At 7:45 a.m. Saturday, they posted on social media that the same stations are still affected by the water outage. 

Megan Thee Stallion's concert was canceled on Friday night and Georgia Aquarium was forced to close for the day. Grady Memorial Hospital and City Hall were also impacted.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights, World of Coca-Cola and College Football Hall of Fame were also closed on Friday. It is also unknown at this time if they will be open Saturday. 

Several Fulton County libraries were also closed on Friday and are closed again Saturday. Libraries include: Auburn Avenue Research Library, Central Library, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Louise Watley @ Southeast, Mechanicsville, Metropolitan, Washington Park and West End. 

Georgia Aquarium posted on social media shortly before 9 a.m. that it will be closed Saturday. It was also forced to close on Friday.

The Children's Museum of Atlanta announced their closure on Saturday due to the issues with water.

"While our exhibits are not affected, the recent water main breaks prevent us from operating until the water pressure is restored in our area," a spokesperson for the museum told FOX 5 Atlanta. "While we would love to see you in our museum today, the health and safety of the kids and caregivers who visit our museum is our most important priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, and we are happy to reschedule tickets for any future day within 90 days."

Those who need assistance are invited to contact Reservations at 404-527-3693 or email reservations@childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Megan Thee Stallion is also scheduled to perform at State Farm Arena on Saturday night.

Just before noon, the rapper posted on social media hyping up fans for the show.

On Friday, State Farm Arena said that the concert was still scheduled to take place. However, fans should keep an eye open for any announcements. 

The Carter Presidential Library has announced the museum will be closed Saturday because of the water issue.

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church has also announced the cancelation of an event on Saturday.

And although ZOO Atlanta was forced to close early on Friday, they have announced they will be open on Saturday.

A watch party for a women's soccer game at Fado Irish Pub in Midtown Atlanta is still on schedule at the moment. However, they are advising fans to keep an eye on social media. 

Atlanta United is scheduled to play Charlotte FC on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which was also impacted on Friday. At this time, it does not appear that an announcement has been made related to the game. However, fans should keep an eye on social media and their inboxes in case repairs are not made in time and the game is canceled. 

When will it be fixed?

Atlanta Watershed Management has not posted any updates on its social media accounts as of 8 a.m. Saturday. Their last post on social media was at 10:15 p.m. Friday night. Additionally, their website had been unavailable for several hours on Saturday. As of 1 p.m., it appeared it was back up and running.

At this time, it is unknown when the issues will be resolved. 

Atlanta Watershed Management have been posting updates on its website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since Friday. 

This story is developing.  Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.