A significant water main break on Clairmont Road in DeKalb County has left nearly 20,000 residents in the Toco Hills area without reliable water access. The incident, which occurred due to a failure in an old cast iron pipe installed in 1941, prompted the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management to issue a boil water advisory on Wednesday evening. The advisory affects approximately 8,800 households, urging residents to boil water before using it for drinking or cooking.
Crews arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning to address the water main break that resulted in a noticeable hole. The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management informed the public about the break at 8:30 p.m. local time and highlighted the necessity of draining the water tank to access and repair the damaged pipe.
"This is necessary to drain the water tank and access the damaged pipe for repairs," – DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management
Commissioner Robert Patrick of DeKalb County District 1 advised residents to adhere strictly to the boil water advisory. Meanwhile, Emory University responded promptly by issuing a statement to its community and arranging for the distribution of safe water across various campus locations.
The current situation echoes a similar event that occurred eight months ago in Atlanta, where a water main break led to significant disruptions, including concert cancellations at State Farm Arena. Residents in Atlanta experienced several days without water, and businesses faced challenges due to the prolonged disruption.
Local business owners in DeKalb County are expressing concern about the impact on their operations.
"They said it’s going to take all day. That’s very discouraging for business," – Jan Bolgla of Atlanta Vintage Books
The repair work on Clairmont Road is expected to continue throughout the day, with no definitive timeline for resolution. As a result, residents and businesses are bracing for ongoing disruptions until repairs are completed.
Local news outlet WSB-TV has been actively covering the development, emphasizing the substantial impact on residents and businesses alike. DeKalb County's location within metro Atlanta adds to the urgency of addressing such infrastructure challenges promptly.
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