Oakland County Water Emergency: Main Break Disrupts Service

A 42-inch water transmission main in River Woods Park, Auburn Hills, experienced a significant break, prompting immediate action from local authorities and the GLWA. The break, initially detected as a leak on Wednesday, May 6, worsened, leading to emergency declarations on Sunday, May 10.

The affected areas include Orion Township, the Village of Lake Orion, the City of Rochester Hills, and the northern section of Auburn Hills. Residents and businesses are under strict water usage restrictions, limited to essential needs only. A boil water advisory is in effect for specific areas to ensure public health safety. Water distribution points have been set up to provide potable water to residents.

GLWA crews are working to isolate the break and begin repairs, but the process is expected to be extensive, potentially lasting up to two weeks. Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett has emphasized the severity of the situation, requesting all available resources to mitigate the impact on the community. Assisted living facilities are being evacuated, and Lake Orion Community Schools are closed.

Prepare for prolonged outage: stock up on bottled water, limit water usage, and stay informed via local news and township alerts.

Who this affects most: Residents and businesses in Auburn Hills, Orion Township, Lake Orion, and Rochester Hills.

Repairs are expected to take 10-14 days.

Only for essential purposes: hydration, food preparation, and basic sanitation.

If you are in an area with a boil water advisory, boil water before consumption.

Water trucks are distributing water at designated locations (Wildwood Amphitheater, Auburn Hills Department of Public Works, Atwater Park).

Do you have any tips for conserving water during an outage? Share them in the comments below! Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!