Atlanta remains in a state of emergency due to ongoing water issues.
Atlanta's summer school and programs were cancelled on Monday due to the ongoing water issues in the city. The district's notice stated that these programs would resume once the boil water advisories have been lifted. Non-essential employees have been instructed to work from home.
Since last Friday, Atlanta has been struggling with water problems, starting with two water main breaks. One break near downtown was fixed on Saturday evening, just before Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens declared a state of emergency. However, the other break, located in Midtown, is still unresolved, with crews working on it as recently as Monday morning.
On Sunday, the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management reported another potential water main break in the Candler Park neighborhood. Emergency repairs were completed later that day.
The series of breaks and repairs underway caused issues with water supply and boil water advisories, causing tourist attractions to shut down and postpone events. Among these events were two Megan Thee Stallion concerts scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Mayor Dickens acknowledged the difficulty many faced during these challenging times in his Saturday declaration of emergency, which allowed the city to swiftly access resources for the repairs. "We're all pretty serious about this," he said.
Atlanta's recent troubles showcase a bigger issue with aging infrastructure in the US and Canada. According to a Utah State University study from December 2023, approximately 260,000 water main breaks cost $2.6 billion annually. The average age of a failing water main is around 53 years, and 33% of water mains in the US and Canada are over 50 years old.
This story is still being updated.
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The cancellation of Atlanta's summer school and programs was a direct result of the ongoing water issues affecting the city. These issues have also led many non-essential employees to work from home.
