Boil water advisory lifted for most of DeKalb County after Clairmont Road water main break repaired

After a week-long ordeal during which Clairmont Road was closed and thousands were without drinkable water, DeKalb County officials have announced that the water is now safe to drink for most of the county. This announcement comes a day after the broken main was repaired.

The advisory affected more than 8,000 households.

Clairmont Road water main break

The backstory:

A significant water main break occurred along Clairmont Road in Brookhaven late Sunday evening, affecting approximately 8,800 households and over 20,000 residents in the Toco Hills area and nearby neighborhoods. The break happened between Manville Drive and Dresden Drive, blocking a portion of the busy roadway most of the week. The 30-inch cast iron pipe, installed in 1941, failed due to its age, leading to substantial service disruptions.

Is there a boil water advisory for my area?

What we know:

The boil water advisory was lifted on Friday evening for most of the previously impacted area after multiple tests showed no signs of pollution.

As of late Friday evening, a small area along Clairmont Road between North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard was still under an advisory.

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DeKalb County water main break: How it happened

Local perspective:

The water main break occurred along Clairmont Road in Brookhaven and is impacting approximately 8,800 households and over 20,000 residents in the Toco Hills area and nearby neighborhoods. 

The break happened between Manville Drive and Dresden Drive, blocking a portion of the busy roadway. 

DeKalb County officials acknowledged the extensive damage to the infrastructure, which they say is becoming more common. 

"What we're dealing with here today, it's unfortunate, but it's unfortunately not unique," said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson.

On Thursday, crews said they had installed a specialty valve on the pipe so that they could shut the water off easily in the future. Following the repairs, teams flushed and pressurized the pipe and then tested levels.

The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management has been working to repair the damaged pipe since Sunday night.

While repairs were taking place, many residents and businesses were experiencing low to no water pressure. 

Crews had previously reported difficulties in shutting off water to the area to complete the repairs. 

(Billy Heath/FOX 5)

On Wednesday morning, the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management issued a boil water advisory for the area bounded by Moreland Avenue on the west, Candler Street and Clairmont Avenue on the east, Mason Mill on the north, and Hosea Williams on the south. 

The advisory doesn't impact anyone who receives water service from the city of Atlanta.

Residents react to water main break

What they're saying:

Shivang Gieri, an Emory University freshman, described the restrictions in place on the campus. "They said not to use the water to brush our teeth and, like, when you shower, don't put it in your mouth. And obviously, like, don't use it for drinking," Gieri said. 

A break in the water line has meant no line of customers on Wednesday for Top Express Car Wash. It is one of the many places impacted by the water main break near the intersection of Clairmont Road and Dresden Drive in Brookhaven.

"We have no running water so we're unable to wash cars right now," General Manager Taylor Curtis said.

For a business that relies on water, the loss of it is ironic considering it is one of the main things needed to clean cars.

"Especially right after the snow and all the ice, we already shut down and so, with this happening right behind, it will definitely put a dent in the business," Curtis said.

The Source: Information for this story came from workers at the scene and the Brookhaven Police Department. Details from the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management were also used. This article has been updated since originally published to provide new details.

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