Two major water main breaks in Atlanta on Friday, May 31, 2024, caused significant disruptions and prompted a state of emergency declaration by Mayor Andre Dickens. The first break was fixed, but the second one is still being worked on. The city issued a boil water advisory as a precautionary measure due to potential contamination.
The breaks occurred near downtown Atlanta and affected numerous businesses, including Megan Thee Stallion's scheduled concerts at State Farm Arena. Several hospitals, such as Grady Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown, were also impacted. Some patients had to be evacuated or transferred to other facilities due to the lack of water.
The city faced criticism for slow communication regarding the disruptions and apologized for not providing enough up-to-date information. The Department of Watershed Management is working on restoring water services as quickly as possible, but no timeline has been given yet for when normalcy will be fully restored.
The first major break occurred at Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive, while the second one was reported near 11th Street NE and West Peachtree Street NE. The cause of the breaks is currently unknown, but officials suspect corroded pipes may be to blame.
The city has set up water distribution sites for residents in need and encourages them to conserve water for essential use only. Residents are advised to boil all water before using it for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene until further notice.