23 communities asked to stop watering lawns as water main repairs continue

Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
A new section of piping arrived at the site of the water main break Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022.
A new section of piping arrived at the site of the water main break Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022.

The Great Lakes Water Authority is asking residents in cities impacted by the water main break to refrain from watering their lawns until the repair is completed.

Suspending outdoor irrigation will allow the limited water supply to adequately provide for residents, businesses and emergency services.

"As GLWA continues to work on the repairs to the 120-inch water main break on the regional water system that caused last Saturday’s Boil Water Advisory, limited outdoor water use can help reduce the load on the regional water system and help other surrounding communities possibly lift their Boil Water Advisory sooner," the city of Sterling Heights said in a Wednesday news release.

The authority asked all 23 communities included in the original boil water advisory to limit their outdoor water use, according to CEO Suzanne Coffey.

The water main break was announced last Saturday, prompting a boil water advisory for 23 communities encompassing about 935,000 residents and a declaration of a state of emergency by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday for Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties to coordinate state efforts to assist affected Michiganders.

The 23 original communities include:

  • Village of Almont

  • Auburn Hills

  • Bruce Township

  • Burtchville Township

  • Chesterfield Township

  • Clinton Township

  • City of Flint

  • Flint Township

  • Imlay City

  • City of Lapeer

  • Lenox Township

  • Macomb Township

  • Mayfield Township

  • Village of New Haven

  • Orion Township

  • City of Pontiac

  • City of Rochester

  • City of Rochester Hills

  • Shelby Township

  • City of Sterling Heights

  • City of Troy

  • City of Utica

  • Washington Township.

After an initial response by the authority, the advisory area was narrowed and now applies to seven communities, impacting approximately 133,000 residents.

More: Boil water advisory extended to 3 weeks for 133,000 metro Detroit residents amid repairs

More: Michigan lifts Huron River restrictions after fears of carcinogenic spill ease

The original restoration plan allotted for one week of repairs and another for quality testing, meaning residents would have had safe drinking water restored by Aug. 27. That estimated date is now Sept. 3, the authority announced Tuesday.

Seven communities remain under a Boil Water Advisory:

  • The Village of Almont

  • Bruce Township

  • Burtchville Township

  • Imlay City

  • City of Rochester

  • Shelby Township

  • Washington Township

Miriam Marini contributed. 

Contact Emma Stein: estein@freepress.com and follow her on Twitter @_emmastein.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 23 communities asked to stop watering lawns as repairs continue