SYMBOL - 01 July 2023, Berlin: Tap water flows with pressure from the faucet into a sink. Photo: Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/dpa (Photo by Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/picture alliance via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
EAST POINT, Ga. - East Point repair crews are working alongside gas utility workers to fix a water main break inside a shared sinkhole.
The city has issued a mandatory boil water advisory that will stay in place until laboratory testing confirms the water is completely safe to drink.
What we know:
Water Resources Department crews successfully uncovered the broken water main and are actively working on repairs.
The fix has proved exceptionally challenging because gas company personnel are simultaneously working inside the exact same sinkhole, according to city officials.
This layout requires tight safety coordination between the utilities. Officials estimate the mechanical repairs will take four to six hours to finish.
What we don't know:
Officials cannot yet confirm the exact time water service will return to normal or when the boil water advisory will officially be lifted. Because regulatory water quality testing requires a minimum of 18 hours in a laboratory, the city does not know if the initial batches of samples will pass safety protocols on the first run.
What's next:
Once crews complete the physical repairs, the boil water advisory will stay in place during state-required safety checks.
Technicians must process regulatory samples inside a laboratory for at least 18 hours.
The city will not lift the advisory until these specific tests prove the water is completely clean and safe for residents. Workers have been onsite through the night and intend to post more updates as the testing progresses.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the City of East Point Government, which published an official update on behalf of its Water Resources Department regarding utility coordination and mandatory water safety testing.