The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has issued a boil water advisory for residents and businesses in the downtown corridor and areas east of downtown. The advisory comes after an internal power failure at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant.

Officials emphasize that the measure is precautionary, in accordance with guidance from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Power has since been restored, but the advisory remains in effect until water quality sampling confirms the system is safe.

Updated: Atlanta Boil Water Advisory

An internal power failure at the historic Hemphill Water Treatment Plant led to temporary low water pressure in parts of the distribution system. Low pressure can potentially allow contaminants to enter the lines, prompting the advisory as a standard public health precaution. No contamination has been reported, and the issue appears isolated to affected areas experiencing outages or low pressure. atlantanewsfirst.com
The Hemphill plant, which dates back to the late 19th century, serves a significant portion of Atlanta’s water needs. Recent maintenance work on electrical systems at the facility was noted in prior communications

Atlanta boil water advisory

Find out if your address is affected

The advisory primarily impacts the downtown Atlanta area and eastern sections. Residents and businesses who experienced water outages or noticeably low pressure should follow the boil water guidelines. Maps of the affected zones have been shared by the City of Atlanta and DWM on social media and official websites. @cityofatlanta
Areas outside the specified downtown corridor are not currently under the advisory.
What Residents Should Do

  • Boil water for at least one minute before using it for drinking, cooking, preparing baby formula or food, brushing teeth, or washing fruits and vegetables.
  • Alternatively, use bottled water for these purposes.
  • Showering, bathing, and doing laundry are generally considered safe without boiling, as the risk is primarily ingestion-related.
  • Continue boiling or using bottled water until the advisory is officially lifted. instagram.com
    DWM is actively monitoring system pressures and conducting sampling. The advisory will be lifted once testing protocols are completed and the Georgia EPD clears the water system.
    Additional Resources
  • Check the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management website (atlantawatershed.org) for maps and updates.
  • Follow official accounts: @ATLWatershed, @CityofAtlanta, and @ATL311 on X (formerly Twitter).
  • Call 311 for non-emergency questions about water service in Atlanta.
  • For health concerns, contact the Fulton County Board of Health or your local provider. fultoncountyboh.com
    This event marks another reminder of the vulnerabilities in aging infrastructure, even as Atlanta continues efforts to modernize its water systems. Officials urge the public to stay informed through verified city channels and prepare accordingly until the advisory is resolved. Updates will be provided as sampling results become available.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

At 7 p.m., on Saturday, the City of Atlanta announced that the water main break repair was complete.

“Crews have completed multiple rounds of repairs on the aging pipe at the junction of Joseph E. Boone Blvd. and J.P. Brawley Dr.,” the city posted. “The system is gradually being brought back online to allow for the rebuilding of system pressures.”

In this article, you’ll find a boil water advisory map, Atlanta fire stations who have cases of free water available and what the City is doing to get the water back to normal.

When Will the Atlanta Boil Water Advisory Be Lifted?

As for the boil water advisory, the City said that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division would advise the Department of Watershed Management when to lift i

The first water main break happened around 10 a.m. on Friday, but the city didn’t tell residents about it until around 5 p.m.

The City announced fire stations that had free cases of water on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

“Attention Residents: Station 10 is currently out of water,” the city said. “Affected residents can still pick up water at the following fire stations. One case per resident, the City said.

  • Station 1: 71 Elliot St
  • Station 2: 1568 Jonesboro Rd
  • Station 16: 1048 Joseph E Boone Blvd

Boil Water Advisory Issued Across Atlanta

As a result of the water issues, the city issued a boil water advisory, which means that residents are cautioned that they should use bottled water or boil tap water. This is because a boil water advisory means your community’s water has, or could have, germs that can make you sick.

Advisories may include information about preparing food, drinks, or ice; dishwashing; and hygiene, such as brushing teeth and bathing. Boil water advisories usually include this advice:

  • Use bottled or boiled water for drinking, and to prepare and cook food.
  • If bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). After boiling, allow the water to cool before use.
  • Boil tap water even if it is filtered (for example, by a home water filter or a pitcher that filters water).
  • Do not use water from any appliance connected to your water line, such as ice and water from a refrigerator.
  • Breastfeeding is the best infant feeding option. If you formula feed your child, provide ready-to-use formula, if possible.

Atlanta Boil Water Advisory Map

Here is the boil water advisory map as of Saturday, 4 p.m.

Atlanta boil water advisory map

Atlanta Events Postponed

Explore Your Atlanta

Atlanta has just what you need, not just today but every weekend. From exploring the city’s diverse restaurant scene to taking in a beautiful park greenspace or even checking out the hidden gems, Atlanta has some of everything.

First, to find all the good things happening in the city this week, all you have to do is take a look at downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. CNN Center often has something cool going on! Check out these events in Atlanta today and this week and this weekend:

Here are more articles from AtlantaFi.com:

Stay with AtlantaFi.com as we give you up-to-date coverage of the Atlanta water boil advisory.