Update 4:36 PM: DeKalb County officials say repairs are underway on a 48-inch water main that was damaged by a contractor on Thursday morning. That pipe, located near McAuliffe Drive and Winters Chapel Road, outside of Doraville affected water pressure and caused some homeowners to experience brown water in their faucets.
Emergency fixes should be completed late Thursday, the county said.
A second 30-inch pipe also had a leak near Decatur. It is also being repaired.
City Schools of Decatur initially considered dismissing some students early but ultimately decided to stick to a regular schedule.
Update 1:20 PM: City Schools of Decatur said two schools have low water pressure but will not need to dismiss early. No Decatur schools will close early, the district said.
DeKalb's Watershed Management Department also confirmed that there were two separate water main breaks.
The first is a 48-inch pipe on McAuliffe Drive, which is near Winters Chapel Road and Doraville. The second was a 30-inch main at Katie Kerr Drive in Decatur.
The following areas are experiencing water issues as a result: Drew Valley, Clairmont Road, Buford Highway, Briarcliff Road and Henderson Mill Road.
Original Post: A water main break close to Winters Chapel Road in northern DeKalb County caused a reduction in water pressure and some homes to experience brown water coming out of faucets on Thursday morning.
One school district has alerted parents that campuses could be forced to close.
A contractor working along Winters Chapel Road near Doraville damaged a valve on a 48-inch water main and caused the damage, the county said in a news release.
The City Schools of Decatur sent a notice to parents that there may be two different breaks and both were impacting schools.
"Please be aware that we may need to dismiss one or more schools early," the message said.
Customers who notice brown water should run their faucets until the stream runs clear, the release said. For more information, contact the DeKalb County Watershed Department at (770) 270-6243.
In March 2018, a water mean break in Doraville led to a loss in water pressure for an entire day throughout a large portion of DeKalb. That break was caused by a sewer line that failed.
About the Author
