UPDATE: Midtown main break adds to Atlanta water woes

Saturday June 1st

A second major water main break is adding to Atlanta’s water woes, this time in Midtown.

Fox 5 News showed water gushing from the street near the corner of West Peachtree and 11th Street. Atlanta police have blocked off a portion of West Peachtree, which appears to have collapsed, while Atlanta Watershed crews work to repair the breach.

Meanwhile, much of the city was already without water after a major water main break in Vine City Friday morning. The pause closed businesses, government offices, tourist attractions and forced the postponement of Megan Thee Stallion’s concert at State Farm Arena.

Midtown was already experiencing low water pressure due to the Vine City break, but it’s unclear how this new break will affect residents and businesses in the area.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Friday May 31

Water is shut off to much of Atlanta, including downtown, after a water main break impacts residents, closing businesses and canceling events throughout the city.

The city’s Department of Watershed Management shut off water to part of the city at 5 p.m. to repair a water main break on a 48- and 36-inch transmission line that “carries large volumes of water.” “water to the metropolitan area,” according to a press release.

There is no timetable for how long the advisory will be in effect or when water will be turned back on after repairs.

The department worked all day on a main breach near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard. NW and James P. Brawley Drive. Crews were also working on water main breaks at 2922 Glenwood Ave. SE, near East Lake Golf Course, and at 1236 E. Beechwood Drive NW in Buckhead.

The DWM issued a boil water advisory Friday afternoon “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with Georgia EPD guidelines for public advisories,” according to the release.

Those who experienced water outages and/or low water pressure on Friday are advised to boil all water or use bottled water for drinking, cooking, preparing baby food or brush your teeth.

The Department of Watersheds is asking people to only use water for critical purposes to allow system pressures to recover. The boil water advisory will remain in effect until DWM is permitted to lift it in accordance with sampling protocols.

DWM will follow its system flushing protocols as a precaution and has sampled affected areas to affirm there is no contamination in the system, according to the release.

The Georgia Division of Environmental Protection will notify DWM when the advisory can be lifted.

DWM Commissioner Al Wiggins told WSB-TV the department began receiving calls at 8 a.m. Friday about low water pressure issues. He said businesses and residents should prepare to be without water for an indefinite period of time.

Grady Memorial Hospital has canceled appointments for Friday. Winship at Emory Midtown and Emory Proton Therapy Center in Midtown also canceled appointments and directed people needing immediate care to its Clifton campus.

Major tourist attractions, including the Georgia Aquarium, the College Football Hall of Fame and Zoo Atlanta, closed Friday afternoon.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Friday concert at State Farm Arena has been postponed to Sunday, June 2. His concert on Saturday, June 1 at the arena is expected to go on as planned.