Update: GLWA reduces water boil advisory to 13 communities following water main break
MICHIGAN (FOX 2) - GLWA has reduced the water boil advisory to 13 communities following a water main break at the Great Lakes Water Authority's Lake Huron facility.
An estimated 935,000 were originally affected after GLWA issued a water boil advisory for 23 communities Saturday morning.
The GLWA is working to isolate a break on the 120-inch water transmission main; the largest in the regional water distribution system. The leak was found in the early morning hours on Saturday.
The location of the leak has been found approximately one mile west of the GLWA's Lake Huron Water Treatment Facility. Crews are working on isolating the area so that they can start repairs.
Emergency connections to other mains in the system will be opened once the leak is isolated, said the GLWA.
The following communities are still under precautionary boil water advisory:
- The Village of Almont
- Bruce Township
- Burtchville Township
- Chesterfield Township
- City of Imlay City
- Lenox Township
- Macomb Township
- Mayfield Township
- Village of New Haven
- City of Rochester
- Shelby Township
- Washington Township
- City of Romeo (only the industrial park)
"Based on further review of GLWA’s water pressure data, it does not appear that water pressure in these communities fell below the 20psi threshold for declaring a Boil Water Advisory," GLWA said in a statement.
The Great Lakes Water Authority provided the following update to the 120-inch Water Transmission Main Break and Boil Water Advisory, as of 3 p.m. on August 13, 2022. Please see GLWA's website for the full release and updates as available: https://t.co/dRUzThZnzX pic.twitter.com/8eeEzbvshn
— Great Lakes Water Authority (@glwatermi) August 13, 2022
Residents under the Boil Water Advisory should not drink water without boiling it for at least one minute and then letting it cool, said the GLWA. Boiled, bottled or disinfected water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice, according to the advisory.
"Whenever a water system loses pressure for any significant length of time, precautionary measures are recommended since a loss of pressure can lead to bacterial contamination in the water system," said the GLWA. "Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout our environment. Boiling water before using it will kill bacteria and other organisms that may be in the water."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has activated the State Emergency Operations Center following multiple requests for additional resources from local communities.
"Our top priority right now is protecting the public health and safety of Michigan residents until this water main is fixed as quickly as possible," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. "I have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure that every possible resource is available to GLWA and the impacted communities to accomplish that goal."
The cause of the water main break is still under investigation. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
For more information, contact Great Lakes Water Authority Water Quality at waterquality@glwater.org or by calling (313) 926-8192 or (313) 926-8128. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.
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