Parts of the city of Atlanta remain under a boil water advisory and will be until Saturday after a power outage at the city’s main water treatment plant.
Early Friday morning, the city says the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant experienced an hour-long power outage to two of its three big pumps.
Officials say they expect to lift the advisory by 1 p.m. on Saturday, but they have to assess the water quality before it can be lifted.
Atlanta Watershed Commissioner Greg Eyerly told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot that the problem happened when they suddenly lost power Friday morning.
“Took about an hour. Pressure dropped in some parts of the city, and seven pressure sensors were located where it dropped below 20 psi, pounds per square inch. That is the regulatory threshold that we have to issue a boil water advisory,” Eyerly said.
Even with the water pressure back up, Eyerly said the water must be tested, and that could take up to 18 hours before the state can give the OK to lift the advisory.
Elliot went to East Atlanta Village and spoke with half a dozen restaurants, who said they didn’t know there was an advisory.
Jon Frechette with Park Pet Supply told Elliot that he did hear about the advisory.
“I just heard that there was a boil water advisory for East Atlanta and for downtown into East Atlanta. So, I checked the map and saw that we are one of the affected areas,” Frechette said.
Eyerly said they’re doing everything they can to get the word out.
“We use every possible outlet we can, to include yourselves. That’s why you’re our biggest help when it comes to these kinds of issues to get the word out,” Eyerly said.
Watershed management said it also had to call every single hotel in the downtown area to let them know to let their guests know about the advisory.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO IN A BOIL WATER ADVISORY
- Drink bottled water if possible.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables with boiled or bottled water.
- Use boiled of bottled water when mixing with baby formula.
- Laundry can be done as usual, but dishwashers need to be on the hot setting.
- You can flush your toilets normally.
WHAT NOT TO DO IN A BOIL WATER ADVISORY
- Do not use tap water for hand washing
- Do not use ice from ice trays, ice dispensers or ice makers.
- Do not brush your teeth with tap water.
- Do not swallow and water while bathing or showering.
- Do not feed your pets tap water.
- Do not rely on water filters because they do not typically remove bacteria.
- Do not use tap water if you have open wounds, blisters, sores, have a weakened immune system or a chronic illness. Instead use boiled cooled water, or bottled water for bathing, skin cleansing and shaving.
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