Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) at 4 p.m. Aug. 14 to respond to the ongoing water main break at the Great Lakes Water Authority’s (GLWA) Lake Huron Water Treatment facility.
More than 130,000 people in communities north of Detroit are under a boil water advisory due to the break in the water main that distributes drinking water to the region from the Lake Huron Water Treatment Facility, the according to GLWA. As of Aug. 14, water flow/pressure has been restored to the northern communities impacted by the water main break, which will be enough flow to use for sanitary purposes.
According to The New York Times, the leak came from a 120-inch water transmission main. According to authorities said, they expect it will take about two weeks until they could return the pipeline to service. GLWA was able to accomplish this by making changes in the direction that water is pumped in the transmission system.
GLWA noted on Aug. 13 that an estimated 935,000 people in 23 communities, one business in Greenwood and one business in Imlay Township, were potentially impacted.
According to Whitmer's news release, the SEOC activation will ensure state resources are available to support the local communities.
The water main break is impacting water pressure and Boil Water Advisories have been issued for multiple communities.
“Our top priority right now is protecting the public health and safety of Michigan residents until this water main is fixed as quickly as possible,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in the news release. “I have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to ensure that every possible resource is available to GLWA and the impacted communities to accomplish that goal. I’m grateful to all of the first responders, utility workers, leadership at the county and municipal levels, and everyone else who is working hard to make sure our neighbors have safe water. We will continue to work with local officials and are prepared to offer the full weight of state resources to get the job done.”
