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5 cities under boil water advisory until at least Thursday after Macomb County water main break

By Amber Ainsworth
Updated  August 1, 2023 2:36pm EDT
News
FOX 2 Detroit

Macomb County water main break will take days to repair

Tuesday morning, a massive water main break that feeds five communities burst. Later in the morning, the pressure was restored but five cities are now under a boil water advisory and cases of water are being handed out.

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - A boil water advisory for four Macomb County communities and one Oakland County city will remain in effect until at least Thursday afternoon.

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) issued a mandatory boil water advisory for Chesterfield Township, Lennox Township, Macomb Township, New Haven, and the city of Rochester (Rochester east, GLWA District).

About 152,000 people are impacted by this advisory.

The GLWA said early Tuesday afternoon that a break on a 36-inch main on 24 Mile Road near North Avenue was isolated, and water pressure had been restored. However, the boil water advisory will not be lifted until testing is completed.

The authority expects to be able to conduct its first of two rounds of water quality testing Tuesday afternoon. Each round of testing takes approximately 24 hours, meaning the soonest the Boil Water Advisory could be lifted by GLWA is 48 hours from when the first test is taken.

Due to the break, 24 Mile is closed east of North Ave. indefinitely, according to the Macomb County Sheriff. 

A second main is also broken on 23 Mile near Romeo Plank. That main was spouting water Tuesday morning. Romeo Plank is closed between 22 Mile and 23 Mile

Water gushes from broken Macomb County main

A broken water main at 23 Mile and Romeo Plank is gushing water Tuesday afternoon. A second water main break at 24 Mile near North prompted a boil water advisory. (Video courtesy of Matt Ziehm)