OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. \u2013 A broken 42-inch water main in Auburn Hills has been replaced. But the work is just starting, leaving northern Oakland County under a state of emergency.<\/p>\n
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) said the line was installed in 1975 to last about 100 years. It only reached 51 before bursting, leaving thousands without water.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s everything we know about the water main break:<\/p>\n
Water main break update<\/p>\n
Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett<\/a> is expected to provide an update on the water main break at 11 a.m. on May 12.<\/p>\n Local 4 will be at the press conference.<\/p>\n Water main replaced<\/p>\n The ruptured 42-inch water main was replaced Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next step in the process is they\u2019ve got to go in and actually weld the joints to the existing pipe,\u201d GLWA CEO Suzanne Coffey said.<\/p>\n Coffey said this is ahead of schedule. But just because things are moving along doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t a long road of testing ahead.<\/p>\n This pipe was installed in 1975 and was supposed to last 100 years. It\u2019s only been about 50 years.<\/p>\n Related –> A 42-inch pipe broke 50 years too soon. Here\u2019s where things stand for Oakland County communities<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cA very small percentage of this kind of pike can have a defect in it,\u201d Coffey said. \u201cThey called it a \u2018manufacturing anomaly\u2019 that creates a condition where it ages more rapidly than it should. But 96% of the pipe is good. It\u2019s $20 million a mile to replace the pipe.\u201d<\/p>\n GLWA said the water main was discovered leaking on May 6. Crews were working to reroute water, but the water main broke at around 1:30 a.m. on May 10 before rerouting was completed.<\/p>\n Businesses reopening<\/p>\n Orion Township businesses are no longer required to close unless they are specifically notified by the fire department.<\/p>\n Related –> Water main break forces Oakland County businesses to close during busy weekend<\/a><\/p>\n Water restrictions<\/p>\n Residents in Orion Township, Lake Orion, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills still cannot use water for nonessential activities such as watering lawns, washing cars, running dishwashers, using washing machines, etc.<\/p>\n Related –> \u2018No showers, no laundry\u2019: Oakland County residents line up for water as main break repair continues<\/a><\/p>\n Boil Water Advisories still in effect<\/p>\n Boil Water Advisories are still in effect for the communities affected: Orion Township, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills and Oakland Township.<\/p>\n –> Here\u2019s what to do during a boil water advisory<\/a><\/p>\n In Pontiac, residents are asked to avoid outdoor water use to reduce strain on the system. Higher demand can contribute to low water pressure in the city and nearby communities and may reduce water available for firefighting. Residents are urged to limit water use to essential needs only until the break is repaired.<\/p>\n Related –> Neighbors, agencies unite to provide clean water amid Oakland County boil advisory<\/a><\/p>\n Water pickup locations<\/p>\n GLWA said water trucks are distributing one-gallon containers at:<\/p>\n Orion Township:\u00a0Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Court<\/p>\n Auburn Hills:\u00a0Auburn Hills Department of Public Works, 1500 Brown Road<\/p>\n Lake Orion:\u00a0Atwater Park, 426 Atwater Street<\/p>\n