Oakland County water emergency: GLWA working to replace 50-year-old water pipe

The 42-inch water main that burst over the weekend in Auburn Hills, Michigan, exceeded its expected 100-year lifespan.

Great Lakes Water Authority CEO Suzanne Coffey gave that report to CBS News Detroit Monday morning, explaining the logistics of the emergency.

A State of Emergency is in effect for Oakland County, Michigan, with multiple communities having little to no water service. The resulting disruptions include numerous school and business closings, remote work instructions and the need to find alternate sites for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

The Great Lakes Water Authority has been monitoring the water main conditions since Wednesday, when a leak was discovered in River Woods Park in Auburn Hills. Coffey said the leak provided a critical heads-up that something was wrong. The water pipe is 20 to 25 feet below the surface. It is about 50 years old and was expected to last 100 years; with that timeline, it was not scheduled for a detailed inspection until 2030.

Orion Township declared a local state of emergency on Saturday as a precaution. 

The circumstances significantly worsened around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, when the water main broke.  

"GLWA would typically isolate such a break and begin repair immediately, however, given the layout of the water systems in this area, immediately isolating would have caused loss of water within hours to all of Orion Township and part of Auburn Hills," the water authority said.  

"Since the leak was found, GLWA has been working diligently with the communities to reroute water and to avoid this circumstance. Despite our best efforts, the water main broke before the rerouting could be completed." 

Pieces from the broken pipe had been removed by Monday morning.

"Crews are working around the clock," Coffey said. "That kind of construction isn't something that's easy."

Here's what you need to know for Monday, May 11 

Repair schedule

The initial estimate is that it could be two weeks – or more – before water service returns to normal. This could change.

Coffee said there are several critical construction and repair steps scheduled for Monday. In an update, GLWA says it expects to complete installing a new pipe segment by Monday night. The company says it will need to weld steel joints to the existing pipe.

GLWA says it will then begin to disinfect the water main.

State of Emergency 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency on Sunday for the affected areas, providing state resources, including the Michigan State Police, to the affected communities. 

Water conservation 

The communities of Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, and Orion Township have urged all residents to conserve water and use it only for essential purposes. 

"We have a very limited supply of water, so the thought and the fear of an emergency where we're having to help other people or fight a fire would be catastrophic for our community," Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said Sunday. 

The City of Auburn Hills has warned that "instances of water use for non-essential purposes during the State of Emergency will be investigated, and violators may be prosecuted." 

The City of Rochester Hills is asking its residents to "shorten your shower" and delay use of dishwashers, washing machines and lawn sprinklers. "We know you still need to live life, but extra use puts extra strain on the system," the notice said. 

Coffey said system operators can tell from the volume passing through the system that Oakland County residents are heeding the voluntary restrictions. The crews are working to keep water pressure up as much as possible to allow people to flush toilets, so it does help when "non-essential" use, such as lawn watering, backs off.

Boil water advisories 

In areas where a boil water advisory is in effect, the 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. 

Oakland University says on Monday that its main campus, including all apartments, is under a boil water advisory until further notice.

Emergency water supplies 

Three water trucks were assigned on Sunday to assist Oakland County residents who are in the affected communities. Water is being provided in emergency one-gallon bags. 

The trucks, unless they have been sent for refills, will be at the following locations. 

• Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Court, Orion Township. 
• Auburn Hills Department of Public Works, 1500 Brown Road, Auburn Hills. 
• Atwater Park, 426 Atwater Street, Village of Lake Orion. 

Oakview Middle School, 917 Lake George Road, Oakland Township, is the only school in the Lake Orion Community Schools district with water service. Given the circumstances, the district says the middle school will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday for area residents who need restrooms and bottle-filling stations. 

The City of Rochester Hills said a water distribution site for its residents would be open from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday and from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice in the parking lot at Von Maur in The Village of Rochester Hills (400 N. Adams Road). 

And Walgreens said it is directing additional cases and gallon water inventory to all its stores in Oakland County, including Lake Orion, Clarkston, Waterford, Rochester Hills, and Rochester.

School closings 

The schools that are closed on Monday include those in the Avondale and Lake Orion school districts. 

Oakland County Community College in Auburn Hills will have remote classes only on Monday. 

School closings are expected on Tuesday in the Oakland County area as well. 

Announcements of school closings are posted on the CBS Detroit website. 

Business operations 

A Stellantis spokesperson said all employees at its Auburn Hills facilities should work from home on Monday unless notified by management.  

Restaurants, ice cream shops and hair salons also closed Sunday during what would otherwise have been a busy day for many of them. 

Great Lakes Crossing said about its shopping center, "While retail stores may open, the center's restrooms, restaurants and other food establishments will remain closed until further notice."

CBS News Detroit will continue to follow this story on air, online and on our social media accounts.