NOVI, Mich. – A boil water advisory has been issued for all Novi, Walled Lake and Commerce Township residents after a water main break caused low water pressure for many in the city on Sunday.
Novi city officials said the low water pressure is due to an issue with Great Lakes Water Authority and the department is working to fix the issue. GLWA is reporting a 48-inch water main break on 14 Mile Road and Drake Road in Farmington Hills.
Novi city officials said a boil water advisory has been issued for all Novi residents until further notice. Typically, once a boil water advisory is issued, it takes days to lift because multiple rounds of testing are required to ensure the safety of tap water. So, if you’re in Novi, be prepared.
“After the water main is placed back in service bacteriological samples will be collected to determine that the water quality meets the state drinking water standards. We will inform you when tests show no bacteria and you no longer need to boil your water,” Novi said in a release.
Multiple homes in West Bloomfield also had to be evacuated.
Kevin Anderson lives nearby and his hunch was right. There were four homes that had to be evacuated and another two dozen being monitored by first responders.
“The water is flowing into four homes which are severely damaged,” said Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh. “Fortunately after those homes, the water is flowing down a street and into a creek waterway and flowing away from this area.”
Farmington Hills posted an alert about low water pressure but has not issued a boil water advisory for residents as of yet. Other cities impacted in the area have not issued a boil water advisory.
GLWA released a statement on the issue on Sunday evening:
“At approximately 5:15 p.m. tonight, GLWA experienced a break in a 48-inch transmission main located in the area of 14 Mile and Drake Road. GLWA Field Service crews are on-site working to isolate the break, which given the size of the main, is estimated to take another three hours. In the interim, GLWA has been in contact with impacted communities to request that they open up their emergency valves to assist the Authority in maintaining minimal system pressures. At no time has the pressure in the regional system dropped to the point that would require a boil water advisory be issued by the regional system. However, individual communities may have experienced pressure drops significant enough to warrant them to issue a boil water advisory out of an abundance of caution. Those communities impacted include Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Commerce Township, Novi, Walled Lake and Wixom.”
Boil water advisory -- what it means
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.
Hand washing
- In many cases, you can use tap water and soap to wash hands during a boil water advisory. Follow the guidance from your local public health officials.
- Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Then, rinse them well under running water.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
- Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing teeth
- Brush teeth with boiled or bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
- If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
- Household dishwashers generally are safe to use if: The water reaches a final rinse temperature of at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit (66°Celsius), or The dishwater has a sanitizing cycle.
- Sanitize all baby bottles.
- To wash dishes by hand: Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water. In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water. Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute. Let the dishes air dry completely before using again.
Laundry
- It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
- Clean washable toys and surfaces with: Bottled water, Boiled water, or Water that has been disinfected with bleach pdf icon[PDF – 1 page].
Caring for pets
- Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people. Give pets bottled water or boiled water that has cooled.
- 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.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
- You can use tap water for household plants and gardens.
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