Oakland County water main break prompts Whitmer to declare state of emergency
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency due to a water main break that happened in Auburn Hills early Sunday.
The Great Lakes Water Authority said the break on its 42-inch water transmission main in River Woods Park happened around 1:30 a.m. Crews with the agency had been monitoring the main after discovering a leak in it on Wednesday.
"We are activating all available state resources to help support impacted communities, restore water service as quickly as possible, and ensure Michiganders have access to safe drinking water," Whitmer said in a written statement on Sunday.
According to state officials, the declaration allows eligible communities to seek funding that helps cover emergency response costs.
Whitmer on Sunday also activated the State of Michigan Emergency Operations Center on Sunday, which allows the Michigan State Police to help local governments and state agencies coordinate response efforts.
Due to the break, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills and Orion Township are urging all of their residents to conserve water and use it only for necessary purposes. The agency said in a news release Sunday that people should "be prepared to be out of water for a minimum of 14 days."
Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills residents and businesses in the area between Taylor Road and the city's northern border are experiencing a water outage Sunday afternoon, according to officials, who have declared a state of emergency. They added that anyone in the area between Taylor Road and the intersection of University Drive and Cross Creek Parkway is under a mandatory boil water advisory.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a boil water advisory is issued, impacted residents should use commercially bottled water or bring tap water to a full rolling boil for one minute, then let it cool before using.
Rochester Hills
As of Sunday morning, residents in the northwest portion of Rochester Hills are under a boil water advisory.
"Our system is currently stable because we switched into our emergency operational state, however the drop in pressure during that transition necessitates the Boil Water Advisory," officials said in a news release.
A water use restriction in Rochester Hills went into effect at 9 a.m. for all residents. City officials are asking people to try to avoid running dishwashers and washing machines, watering their lawns or using water for recreation. They said in a social media post Sunday morning that water pressure in portions of the community was extremely low.
Orion Township
Orion Township officials, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday, said water service to nonessential businesses will be shut off in an effort to preserve the remaining supply for essential needs, including public health and safety.
"At the current rate of usage, the likelihood of the water tower being depleted before the end of the day remains high," officials in Orion Township said in a Facebook post early Sunday afternoon.
Residents at assisted living and nursing facilities, and group homes in Orion Township were being moved out of the community on Sunday.
"They can not stay here without running water, without flushable toilets," Chris Barnett, supervisor for Orion Township, said in a news conference.
Orion Township issued a boil water advisory for all residents on Sunday afternoon.
The water authority says it has sent its three water trucks to impacted communities to provide residents with one-gallon containers of water.
The West Bloomfield Police Department says there were water pressure issues across the community on Sunday morning and that crews were working to address the issue. As of Sunday afternoon, the township is not under a boil water advisory.
The agency said at 11:47 a.m. in a Facebook post that it had isolated the break and was working to remove standing water from the site.
Once the standing water is gone, crews are expected to remove and replace the damaged pipe, according to the agency.
Schools closed
Lake Orion Community Schools in Orion Township says all of its schools will be closed on Monday and Tuesday. The district added that it will work with Orion Township and the water authority to determine a plan moving forward.
The Avondale School District in Oakland County also said all of its educational facilities will be closed on Monday.
A Stellantis spokesperson said all employees working at its facilities in Auburn Hills should work from home on Monday unless notified by management.