NOVI, MI — About 305,000 Oakland County residents have been affected by Monday’s water main break in Farmington Hills and 51,000 were without water as of late Tuesday, according to the Great Lakes Water Authority.
In Novi, the situation is improving.
The city is receiving some water after a 10-inch main was installed Tuesday, bypassing the main break, according to Novi officials.
“We are strongly requesting everyone to please conserve water.
“Until the water main is repaired, the supply we are receiving is flowing through a 10-inch main as compared to a 48-inch one, thus a demand on the system could be potentially stressful to the pipes and cause additional problems.” A boil water advisory remains in effect at least until Friday, according to the Water Authority.
It expects to have the 48-inch transmission main repair completed by late Wednesday.
The surge sent highly pressurized water north in the Great Lakes Water Authority system causing the break in the transmission main to fail on 14 Mile Road between Farmington and Drake roads, Novi officials said.
In a statement, the Water Authority did say the transmission pipe that was damaged was 47 years old and “in the middle of its service life.” There had been no prior breaks or issues with this water transmission pipe before Monday.
“Through discussions with GLWA customer communities, we have selected a project approach and are planning for it in our Capital Improvement Plan,” The Authority said in the statement.
“We are actively searching for ways to expedite the schedule of this plan.” Back in Novi, the city is continuing to distribute bottled water to residents: Bottled water is available at the Novi Civic Center and Fire Station #2 from 8 a.m. Wednesday to 7 p.m. Tankers with clean drinking water are located at Novi High School, Novi Middle School and the DPS facility for residents.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an administrative order requiring the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority to make critical improvements to its infrastructure and repairs to its public drinking water system.
The order only pertains to infrastructure, no boil water advisory is in effect and no action is required by PWSA customers.
The order requires PWSA to take action according to a schedule to ensure the system’s ability to provide a continuous supply of safe water in terms of pressure and volume.
It does not present an imminent threat from contaminants.
The DEP listed the following actions for PWSA to take: Restore the Lanpher Reservoir to service by completing repairs to the cover of the east cell of the reservoir initially, and ultimately the replacement of the covers and liners of both the east and west cells; Resume operation of the Highland 1 Reservoir, which would require either the addition of an ultraviolet disinfection unit and other upgrades to the Highland Membrane Filtration Plant or the covering of the Highland 1 Reservoir, which would negate the need for operation of the Membrane Filtration Plant; Ensure reliability of the Bruecken Pump Station by installing a backup pump and emergency backup power supply; and Take necessary actions to assure that water at adequate pressure is continuously supplied to users.

Repairs have begun on a broken water main in Farmington Hills and the 300,000 people living under a boil water requirement could get some relief by Friday.
The Great Lakes Water Authority said today that it had restored water pressure to all of the affected communities except for Farmington Hills north of I-696.
Abukhader said several 20-foot sections of the pipe, which is 4 feet in diameter, were delivered but it’s unclear how many of them will need to be installed.
An investigation is needed to answer the larger question: Why did the pipe fail?
"We weren’t anticipating a break in this area."
The pipe was installed in 1970.
Abdukhader said engineers would be reviewing water pressure readings logged at a nearby pressure monitoring station to check for variances.
In Wixom, city officials advised residents that the well water shouldn’t affect their appliances but reminded them to keep boiling until further notice.
Residents should continue to boil water and allow the sedimentation to “settle” after boiling and before using."
"This is again due to the color and sediment issue," the city said.

Free bottled water is available to the more than 300,000 Oakland County residents affected by a major water main break Monday afternoon.
The water main break triggered a boil water alert that remains in effect until late Friday in many of the 12 affected communities.
Novi Free bottled water is available at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 W. 10 Mile Road, Novi, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as at Fire Station 2, 1919 Paramount St. Read more: Free bottled water is available at the Costick Center, 28600 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills.
Bloomfield Township Free bottled water is available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Bloomfield Township Senior Center, 4315 Andover Rd.
Identification showing the water recipient is a township resident is required.
A filling station for safe water is available at Keith Sport Park, at the corner of Willow and Keith roads.
Until city or township officials in the respective, affected communities, and/or the Great Lakes Water Authority, give notification that tap water has been determined safe for consumption, residents should continue to bring water from their taps to a boil and allow it to cool before using it for things such as drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and making ice.
Great Lakes Water Authority officials on Tuesday afternoon said the target for completion of repairs and testing is late Friday.
Contact Keith Matheny: 313-222-5021 or kmatheny@freepress.com.
Follow on Twitter @keithmatheny.

Tuesday morning, a water main broke at the corner of Broad Street and Anderson Road.
City Manager Tim Young said authorities sent water samples to a state Environmental Protection Division-certified lab to find out if it was clean enough to drink.
The Pulaski School District decided to keep the Hawkinsville High School and Pulaski Middle School open and make do with that’s available.
Even though the pipe was fixed Tuesday afternoon, the schools had no clean water Wednesday.
District Director of Operations David Daniell said students were provided bottled water and temporary hand washing stations were installed in the bathrooms.
Calvina Wilcox says she’s frustrated the school district never notified her that there was a water problem at the schools.
"You know, if you contact the parents and let them know what’s going on, even if you do not dismiss school early, let parents have the choice to come pick their child up.
If they want their child to stay in that environment, then they can.
If they don’t, then they can pick the child up."
He added that "student needs were met as usual."

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority was ordered to speed up its work on major infrastructure projects Wednesday when the state’s Department of Environmental Protection issued an administrative order aimed at ensuring consistent water volume and water pressure in the system.
DEP mandated improvements to a pump station and two reservoirs, which should keep PWSA’s system from getting into a low pressure situation, said Ron Schwartz, acting regional director for DEP’s southwest office.
“Contaminants could leak into the piping system,” he said.
“The purpose is to prevent that.” Schwartz clarified that the order is not about water quality, but volume and pressure.
Protecting the quantity of water also protects its quality, he said.
Under the administrative order, PWSA is required to fast-track improvements to the Highland 1 Reservoir and Membrane Filtration Plant, which remains out of service; the Lanpher Reservoir, where problems with the cover prompted a flush-and-boil advisory; and the Bruecken Pump Station, which needs a backup pump and backup power to improve reliability.
Weimar estimates that the three main projects identified by DEP and PWSA will cost roughly $20 million.
Work must be completed by spring 2018, specified as 150 days after DEP approves PWSA’s applications for modified permits.
In addition to the three main projects, the administrative order requires PWSA to send an inventory of all “critical low pressure points” to DEP on or before Nov. 30, and by the same date to provide a detailed schedule for PWSA’s Capital Improvement Projects from the 2017 to 2021 Capital Improvement Program.
Both Schwartz and Weimar said their two agencies have been working in cooperation to ensure quality water for Pittsburgh residents.

Engineers from the City of Farmington Hills have begun to assess the damage to 14 Mile Road and its underlying infrastructure following a Monday water main break that affected Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) customers from Novi to Bloomfield Hills.
According to a press release, the 14 Mile stretch between Farmington and Drake Roads will remain closed while the water main and pavement repairs take place.
Officials won’t know when the road will re-open until engineers have completed their work.
A precautionary boil water notice remains in effect for Farmington Hills residents and businesses north of I-696; residents in that area are also asked to conserve water to alleviate pressure issues in surrounding communities.
A new pipe arrived Wednesday morning, but water won’t considered drinkable until samples taken 48 hours after completed repairs come up clear of contaminants.
Farmington Public Schools announced Wednesday that Farmington STEAM Academy, Forest Elementary School, Kenbrook Elementary School, Wood Creek Elementary School, Warner Middle School, Harrison High School and North Farmington High School, all in the affected area, will re-open on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The City of Farmington Hills will continue to distribute water from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Costick Center, 28600 W. 11 Mile Rd.
There’s a limit of one case per household, and proof of residency is required.
Residents with water pressure issues may also bring empty containers to fill with water at the Costick Center filling station, but should boil the water before drinking if the containers are not safe for drinking water.
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ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority has issued a precautionary boil water notice for potable water customers in the Estate White Lady West End, Adventure Housing to include Paradise Estate, Luis E Brown Villas, and Estate La Grange West End.
Due to a drop in water pressure, as a precaution, WAPA advised that all water used for drinking, cooking, making infant formula or juices, making ice, brushing teeth, washing fruits or vegetables and washing dishes, be boiled.
Bringing water to a rolling boil and maintaining for one full minute is sufficient.
Water must be adequately cooled before it can be used and should be stored in clean, covered containers.
As an alternative, bottled water certified for sale by the V.I.
Department of Health may be used.
Until required bacteriological testing is completed, we recommend, as a precaution boiling tap water before using it to kill any potential contaminants.
The Authority’s microbiology water quality technicians are in the field closely monitoring the system for any irregularities that may occur.
They take great care in ensuring that your water is safe to drink and we appreciate your corporation with this precautionary boil water notice.
The public will be updated accordingly regarding WAPA’s system monitoring evaluations.

Several communities in Oakland County have issued a mandatory boil water advisory.
The Great Lakes Water Authority says a broken transmission main has caused a drop in water pressure in the system, which can lead to bacterial contamination.
What to do if you are affected by the advisory The advisory calls for residents to use boiled, bottled or disinfected water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice.
The affected communities include: Novi (in the area bounded by 14 mile on the north, 8 mile on the south, Napier on the west, and Haggerty on the east) So far, Novi, West Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Township have set up water distribution centers.
Novi has eight centers for the "needy and elderly" throughout the affected area, including stations set up specifically to provide non-drinking water for flushing toilets.
In West Bloomfield, a water distribution center has been set up at Keith Sports Park at 2750 Keith Rd.
Officials say they expect to have a replacement piece of pipe installed by Wednesday night and water quality tests will take place afterward.
“The reason for the boiled water is any time we have a rupture in the water system that transports our drinking water, it can allow the introduction of certain contaminants,” says Hansell.
Klobucar says the hospital often runs drills to prepare for this exact situation, and is currently relying on bottled water, jugs of water, and wells underneath the hospital.
“And we will continue to provide the best care possible.” This story was updated at 3:40 p.m., and will be updated as more information is made available.

The Great Lakes Water Authority announced on Tuesday that they have isolated the leak in the 48-inch transmission main that serves customers in the western portions of Oakland County.
With the leak being isolated, the repairs will begin and pressure is starting to be restored in other system areas.
When was the last time the pipe was repaired?
This is the first time this pipe will have needed repair, as there have been no prior breaks or issues with this water transmission pipe.
When was the last time a break of this magnitude occurred, affecting so many communities?
Were there water pressure issues before the break?
What are the plans to maintain the water main going forward?
The condition assessment will provide proactive opportunities that GLWA will have for preventative maintenance and will assist in establishing redundancies in the system for the area.
Currently, GLWA redundancy exists through interconnections between communities, water storage tanks in certain communities, as well as back-up well water systems in select areas.
How many have no water?