For a month, the Great Lakes Water Authority has been asking residents and businesses in western Oakland County to limit water usage. And there’s no end in sight.
GLWA issued a release on Monday, Oct. 20, asking that water conservation efforts continue, but offered no estimate on when the request might be lifted.
A water main broke on 14 Mile Road in Novi on Sept. 25, resulting in a drop in water pressure and boil advisories in Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wixom, most of Novi and a small part of Wolverine Lake. The boil advisories have been lifted.
GLWA’s release said it “continues its response” to the break in the 42-inch main on 14 Mile, west of M-5. GLWA owns and operates the broken main.
In addition to asking for continued water conservation, GLWA is asking that water users winterize their irrigation systems, the release said.
GLWA said in an earlier release that it expected to complete work on the broken main by Oct. 16, which would mean the water conservation request could be lifted. GLWA officials could not be reached for comment Friday, Oct. 24.
In the days immediately following the water main break, boil advisories were imposed, lifted and imposed again because of over-consumption of water during peak hours.
All of the affected communities asked residents and businesses to refrain from water use that was not necessary, including watering lawns and washing vehicles.
Emergency connections in use while crews worked on the broken main could not withstand excessive water use, officials said.
GLWA said in a release on Oct. 13 that the system was in a “vulnerable state,” and asked water customers to continue to limit usage to avoid putting additional stress on the emergency set-up.
Western Oakland County communities asked to conserve water a little longer
Last boil water advisory lifted in western Oakland County