DeKalb County lifts boil water advisory
DeKalb County water has lifted a boil water advisory that the entire county has been under since Saturday following the repair of a major water main break.
DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management announced that a loss in water pressure in the county has been experienced due to repair attempts on a 48-inch main transmission line. The repairs resulted in three pressure reductions to the system in less than 36 hours which might have posed a hazard to the quality of water.
Many residents have reached out to FOX 5 News to report they still do not have running water as of Monday morning and many restaurants in the area were forced to close over the weekend.
Water issue hurting profits for some in DeKalb County
DeKalb County officials said they are still awaiting test results from water samples collected from across the area under a boil water notice. Until then, the precautionary boil water advisory that was issued countywide on Saturday, July 25 is still in effect.
In a statement issued Monday afternoon, county officials explained the steps they are taking to ensure the water supply is safe.
That statement reads in part:
"DeKalb Watershed Management sampled 20 water sites on Friday, July 24 and water 40 sites Saturday, July 25, which all showed negative for bacteria. Fifty water sites were sampled on Sunday, July 26, and those results are expected today.
As part of the county’s emergency response, sampling is conducted for both public safety assurance and to stay ahead of any regulatory requirements, following a decrease in water pressure to the system.
The loss in pressure experienced by DeKalb County residents during the weekend was a result of a break in a 48-inch transmission main approximately 20 feet underground in an area with gas, power and other utilities present. These obstacles required substantial coordination and care.
Many restaurants turned away customers over the weekend and others opted to buy ice and water to keep operations running smoothly.
Lisa Alexander, a school teacher and mother of two, is frustrated the alert continues 3 days after it was issued."
"It's an overwhelming imposition. We need water to take care of our children, our pets. I didn't have any water pressure for two days and now I do, but it smells like poo," the Southeast Atlanta resident said Monday.