Water Main Break Causes Evacuation at Two DeKalb County Schools

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A water main break Monday morning forced the evacuation of two DeKalb County schools.

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DeKalb County Water and Sewer Crews broke ground shortly after noon Monday to reach a six inch water line here at Klondike and Browns Mill Roads. It apparently ruptured overnight. 

DeKalb County officials said Department of Health protocol requires schools to close when the water supply is compromised. 

The two schools affected were Arabia Mountain High School and Murphey Candler Elementary School. The water was shut off to the schools by the county, according to DeKalb County Schools Director of Communications Quinn Hudson. Hudson said, based on established emergency protocol, students were taken by bus to their assigned schools as follows: Arabia Mountain High School 9th and 10th graders were taken to Lithonia High School and 11th and 12th graders were taken to Miller Grove High School; Murphey Candler Elementary School students will be taken to Salem Middle School.

 

 

All students will resume classes at their assigned schools and a regular lunch schedule followed, according to Hudson. The students were returned to their respective schools for a regular dismissal time, added Hudson.

 

 

Crews hustled to install a metal sleeve over the small ruptured section of a 40-year-old pipe.

DeKalb School officials said operations will resume as usual Tuesday morning at Murphey Candler Elementary and Arabia Mountain High School.