OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Oakland County leaders gave a rough timeline on Tuesday for the water main repairs.
Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett was joined by Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) CEO Suzanne Coffey, Auburn Hills Mayor Eugene Hawkins, Chief of Communications for Rochester Hills Nathan Mueller and many other city and county officials at the township hall on May 12.
Background
A 42-inch water main burst at River Woods Park in Auburn Hills on May 10.
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.
This pipe was installed in 1975 and was supposed to last 100 years. It’s only been about 50 years.
Related –> A 42-inch pipe broke 50 years too soon. Here’s where things stand for Oakland County communities
“A very small percentage of this kind of pipe can have a defect in it,” Coffey said. “They called it a ‘manufacturing anomaly’ that creates a condition where it ages more rapidly than it should. But 96% of the pipe is good. It’s $20 million a mile to replace the pipe.”
Water main repair timeline
Coffey said the repaired section of the pipe was placed at around 6 p.m. on Monday. She said by 2 a.m. on Tuesday, the pipe was full of water and at normal pressure.
She said GLWA is flushing the system, which will likely take until Thursday, and water testing will be done by Sunday or Monday next week. An estimated completion date for the repairs has not yet been set.
Water restrictions
Barnett reminded residents of water restrictions, such as not running the dishwasher, using the washing machine, washing a car or watering plants.
Residents can take a shower, but Barnett said those showers should be quick, like a military shower.
Orion Township schools will remain closed until Thursday, May 14, as repairs continue.
An order was lifted for restaurants in the affected areas, but only for businesses that don’t use a lot of water. Businesses such as car washes remain closed.
Hawkins said the northern part of Auburn Hills, above University Drive and Cross Creek, is still under a boil water advisory. The southern part is under emergency-use water restrictions, meaning residents are subject to the same restrictions as Orion Township, but not under a boil-water advisory.
Rochester Hills is also under a water restriction, but not under a boil-water advisory.
Meeting with restaurant owners
At 1 p.m., there will be a briefing with the Oakland County Health Department, specifically for restaurant owners in the impacted areas, to understand safety precautions during the water restriction and boil-water advisory.
Visit Orion Township’s website for details.
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