The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) discovered a pipe leak at the DWM 14th Street Waterworks facility near the Hemphill Steam Pumping Station. The cause of the leak has not yet been determined. However, DWM plans to excavate the water main to determine the exact cause of the leak after all of the temporary leak control measures are in place.

While every attempt will be made to complete the repair without impacting water service to our customers, there is the possibility of a service disruption due to the proximity of the incident to critical DWM assets. Out of an abundance of caution, we are notifying all critical facilities to be prepared to initiate a continuity of service plan in the event of an unexpected loss of water service.

DWM 14th Street Waterworks Facility Leak Repair FAQs
What repair is taking place? DWM will be repairing a leak on a pipe located
near the water steam plant at the DWM 14th Street Waterworks Facility.

Will traffic be impacted? No. Traffic is not currently impacted and will not be impacted by the repair.

Will anyone be monitoring the issue? DWM staff will monitor the repair as it is underway as well as the water pressures at our Hemphill Steam pumping station on a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week basis.

What exactly has been done or will be needed to complete the repair?
The process of preparing the area began by removing the trees located in the vicinity of the water mains. When repairs begin, crews will excavate the area to expose the leaking piping equipment. Pumps will be installed to prevent flooding of the streets and two area businesses. Specialty line stops will also be installed as an additional leak control method to further mitigate the risk of a water service interruption during repairs.
After the exact cause of the leak is determined, DWM will be able to determine how long customers will need to have their contingency plans in place. It is possible that specialty piping equipment may need to be manufactured to complete the repair which could significantly impact the repair schedule.

Will my water service be interrupted? It is not anticipated that water service will be interrupted, but we want to be proactive in notifying our customers and critical facilities of the repair work and any unforeseen circumstances that may occur during the repairs.

What are the risks in making this repair?

– If the leak becomes uncontrollable during the repair, there is a potential for water service to be interrupted over a wide area as DWM will need to temporarily shut down the pumping station to regain control of the leak. The potential water outage could impact a significant portion of DWM’s service area, including the City of Atlanta, City of South Fulton, Union City, City of Fairburn, etc. However, some areas may only experience lower than normal water pressures.
– In the event that the water pressure drops below 20 psi, a boil water advisory will need to be issued.

– In the event that water service has to be interrupted, extreme water conservation efforts will be encouraged, and city-wide water restrictions will be in place including but not limited to:

• Prohibiting sprinkler irrigation of public and private landscapes No permits issued for watering of new landscapes
• Not permitted to fill pools or hot tubs
• Not permitted to wash vehicles or boats
• No water usage for cleaning driveways, patios, parking lots, sidewalks or streets
• Hand water trees, shrubs and gardens with a hose with spring- loaded nozzle or bucket

How can I prepare for a possible water interruption? All customers can prepare by having alternative means of water supply on standby. Businesses, schools, hospitals and medical facilities can review and prepare your contingency plans.
Can I stop by the site to take a look at the repair underway? No. Due to homeland security concerns, no tours will be granted.
Is there a map that shows the possible impacted service area? Thus far, no areas are experiencing an interruption of water service. If there is an interruption of service, a map will be issued at that time.

If I experience service issues, who can I call? You may call ATL311 at 404-546- 0311.

What are next steps? DWM will provide additional notifications via email, the DWM website, media, robocalls and social media if an interruption in service occurs.