Water main break in DeKalb County fixed using special process
Crews working on a water main break on Covington Road in Avondale.
AVONDALE, Ga. -
DeKalb County crews say a water main break in Avaondale Estates is fixed after multiple days of work. The break happened Friday on Covington Road and was caused by a contractor installing fiber optic cables, according to county officials.
What we know:
Crews sent an update at 8:06 a.m. on Sunday to say that the break was repaired.
Officials said some people may notice discolored water temporarily or have air in the lines. They said both those are normal occurrences. If users run cold water through the tap for several minutes, officials said the water should run clear and air should be purged.
What they're saying:
"We are incredibly grateful to the teams of men and women who worked around the clock over a 40-hour period to complete this highly sensitive and complex repair," said DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson. "Their precision and commitment ensured the job was done safely and efficiently. We also thank the residents and businesses affected by this disruption for their patience and understanding throughout the process."
The backstory:
The break occurred Friday at 33 Covington Road and involved both a 16-inch and a 36-inch water main. The Department of Watershed Management said both mains remain isolated as crews assess the extent of the damage.
In an update on Saturday, DeKalb County officials said crews are using a special technique called hydroexcavation to fix the break. They have to use this process, which uses water and suction instead of heavy machinery, to avoid damaging nearby pipes or cables.
Why you should care:
Residents in the surrounding area may have experienced reduced water pressure or temporary service interruptions while the repairs are underway.
Crews said there was no boil water advisory.
The Source: The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management provided the details for this article. It was edited to provide a Saturday morning update about the process. This article was updated to show the repairs were complete.