The DeKalb Department of Watershed Management announced that a boil advisory was in place for 20,000 DeKalb residents after a water main break on Tuesday afternoon on Clairmont Road. (Pixabay Images)
This story was updated on Jan. 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
A boil water advisory continues to be in place for one area in DeKalb County on Thursday after a major water main break earlier this week.
The DeKalb Watershed Management announced Thursday evening that it has completed repairs to the water main, but it is advising that residents run their faucets inside and outside buildings to clear plumbing.
DeKalb officials first announced the break of the 30-inch pipe on Clairmont Road on Tuesday. The county states that water damage has impacted roughly 8,800 households and 20,000 residents in the Toco Hills area and surrounding businesses, leaving them with little to no water pressure.
The DeKalb Department of Watershed Management announced on X that the boil water advisory includes Moreland Avenue on the west, Candler Street/Clairemont Avenue on the east, Mason Mill on the north and Hosea Williams Drive on the south.
The area put under a boil water advisory on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (DeKalb Department of Watershed Management)
To repair the broken water main, the DeKalb Department of Watershed Management closed lanes on North Druid Hills Road, between Spring Creed Road and Willivee Drive, and repair work will take place between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. until Friday, Jan. 17.
DeKalb has announced bottled water distribution at the following locations:
Fire Station 1 – 1670 Clifton Rd.
Fire Station 3 – 24 N. Clarendon Ave.
Fire Station 7 – 1712 Columbia Dr.
Fire Station 9 – 3858 N. Druid Hills Rd.
Fire Station 20 – 2919 Warren Rd.
RaceTrac – 3630 Clairmont Rd.
Emory University was also affected by the water main break. The school announced to students that they would be passing out bottled water at three locations on campus: the Student Activities and Academic Center lobby, Woodruff Residence Hall (next to Twisted Taco) and the Emory Student Center second-floor commons.
“Water is safe to use for bathing and showering provided it is not swallowed,” Emory said in a statement. “Individuals should not use drinking fountains or other devices connected to the water supply such as coffee makers until the advisory is lifted.”
City of Decatur Schools announced Thursday that they will provide students with modified food options due to low water pressures. They also announced their plans to close any school in the district whose water pressure drops to 15 PSI or below.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the cardinal directions of the roads included in the boil water advisory.
