In a span of just 24 hours, Atlanta has been plunged into turmoil due to a series of significant water main breaks. The incidents have left thousands of residents, businesses, government offices, and popular attractions across the city scrambling to cope with the disruption.
The chaos began with a major water main break at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive, which resulted in the closure of all downtown Atlanta attractions last night. This initial break was followed by a second incident at 11th and West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta, where water was seen gushing into the streets early Saturday morning, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. A potential third break on Atlantic Drive has further exacerbated the situation.
Residents near the affected areas have expressed their frustration to FOX 5 Atlanta over the lack of water and the uncertainty regarding when services would be restored. In response, Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management issued a Boil Water Advisory at 2 p.m. on Friday “out of an abundance of caution.” Water service was halted at 5 p.m. across much of Atlanta, including all of downtown, to facilitate repairs.
Impacted Areas and Closures
The water outages have impacted a broad swath of the city, including northwest Atlanta, downtown, and East Atlanta. Neighborhoods such as Little Five Points, Grant Park, Old Fourth Ward, the West End, Inman Park, and Candler Park have all been affected, with many businesses and restaurants forced to close due to either complete water outages or significantly low water pressure.
Public transportation has not been spared either. Several MARTA stations, including West End, Lakewood, Five Points, Georgia State, King Memorial, Inman Park, Candler Park, Bankhead, and College Park, reported disruptions on Friday and continue to face issues as of Saturday morning.
Event Cancellations and Attraction Closures
The water main breaks have also led to the cancellation of events and the closure of major attractions. Megan Thee Stallion’s concert scheduled for Friday night was canceled, and the Georgia Aquarium was forced to close its doors for the day. Other major attractions, including the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the World of Coca-Cola, and the College Football Hall of Fame, were also shut down on Friday. It remains unclear if these attractions will reopen on Saturday.
Grady Memorial Hospital and City Hall were among the critical institutions affected by the water outages. Additionally, several Fulton County libraries, including the Auburn Avenue Research Library, Central Library, East Atlanta, Kirkwood, and others, were closed on Friday and may remain closed on Saturday. Updates are being provided via their Facebook pages.
What You Need to Know
Residents are advised to follow Atlanta Watershed Management for the latest updates on the situation. The department is actively posting updates on their website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They have also provided a water outage map for residents to track affected areas.
As the city works to restore normalcy, those planning to visit downtown Atlanta or attend events are encouraged to check the status online or call ahead to confirm. With the ongoing repairs to the 48-inch and 36-inch transmission lines, water service disruptions are expected to continue, and the Boil Water Advisory remains in effect for any customers experiencing low water pressure or outages.
Stay tuned to local news and social media for the latest updates on this developing story. Atlanta’s resilience will undoubtedly shine through as the city navigates these challenging times.
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