Atlanta under siege by water crisis

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA – June 4, 2024

The first water main break occurred at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and J.P. Brawley Drive, knocking out water to thousands of customers. A second line broke Saturday night on West Peachtree Street and 11th Street. The largest water main was a 30″ pipe. The deluge of water caused traffic jams and detours around the breaks.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens with unidentified construction workers

Mayor Andre Dickens made his first appearance on Sunday. He apologized for the city’s lack of communication about the water main breaks.

Businesses in the immediate areas had to close. Residents had no water for cooking or cleaning. The lack of water and the slow repair have become a crisis. The Mayor announced on Sunday that watershed management could bypass specific purchase protocols to get the parts necessary to make the repairs faster. Dickens issued a state of emergency due to the widespread effects of the water main breaks.

Megan The Stallion’s Friday and Saturday concerts were canceled due to the city’s ongoing water crisis. She was finally able to take the stage on Sunday. State Farm Arena added hand sanitizing stations around the venue due to ongoing boil water advisories in place as repairs continue.

On Friday, the Department of Watershed Management issued a boil water advisory to residents and businesses with low water pressure.

Atlanta Public Schools has canceled their summer programs as the City of Atlanta continues to make repairs to the water breaks.

Mayor Dickens announced on Monday evening that the Army Corps of Engineers will be on the ground on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, to assist in evaluating the city’s water systems and developing a plan to repair the aging systems.

As of Tuesday, the city had lifted parts of the boil water advisory – welcomed news to the many residents who have been without water for four days.

Some of the pipes were installed in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The main breaks in Atlanta are not isolated, as there have been ruptures in many cities in the United States, symbolic of the deteriorating infrastructure in this country. Atlanta has nearly 2,600 miles of pipe.

The city council convened and listened to citizens’ concerns.

To aid in the water crisis, citizens can pick up water from Atlanta fire stations located at West Peachtree and 10th Street, West Peachtree and 12th Street, and Peachtree Walk and 11th Street.

The city is setting up a $5,000,000 fund to help businesses in the affected areas recover from this five-day water crisis.