>> MILLEDGEVILLE
Freezing weather that swept through over Christmas caused water system failures due to broken water mains that were difficult to track down, according to posts by City Manager Hank Griffeth.
A boil water advisory is in effect for all customers who have had low or no pressure since 4 a.m. Dec. 26. A boil water advisory means the water must be heated to a full rolling boil for one minute before it is used.
Anyone with questions should contact the Water & Sewer Department at 478-414-4052.
Update: 7:58 p.m. Dec. 27
Many of the system water main failures that were located throughout the holiday, when the weather did not allow for repair, have been repaired. We continue to have repairs to make and anticipate we will find other failures, which need repairing before this event is over. These repairs, as well as continued isolation of a section of the water system, has allowed the system to continue to pressurize today, as tanks continued to fill. Many customers will find they have some water, but it will take a few more days for the system to recover and full restoration to be reached. With this being the case, please continue to conserve water for the next few days as the system continues to recover.
Once the system stabilizes, the isolated area will be reopened, and the entire system will be monitored to determine the effect of that area of the system being reopened. This may show other failures which will need to be addressed at that time.
Update: 11:03 a.m. Dec. 27
The exact area of the major water main issue or failure has not been located.
Therefore, we cannot give an estimated time of full restoration.
As stated in the last release, water management operations used to isolate the possible area of major water main issues has caused the pressure on the failed part of the system to begin to increase but that pressurization is slow due to multiple tanks being drained by both the potential water main failures and the large number of residential and business water breaks affecting the system. Current outages continue to include all of the area of the city’s system north of MLK Jr. Drive as well as that area west of the Highway 441 Bypass, including the Allenwood Subdivision and the Blandy Road area.
Contractors began working today o assist in the repair of smaller water main breaks and failures. Additionally, we are consulting with our water and sewer engineering firm to assist us in hydrological engineering, which has an impact on an event of this type.
Update: 11:02 a.m. Dec. 26
Some customers of the City of Milledgeville Water System are currently without water. As was reported yesterday, extremely cold weather has caused hundreds of residential and business water breaks throughout our community. Additionally, there may be issues with water mains themselves, that until identified and located will continue to cause outages. Currently, outages seem to be most numerous in the area of the city’s system north of MLK Jr.
Drive. While this is the case, there may be other areas that have or will experience outages before the event is over. Attempts to manage system flow is ongoing and searches for residential, business, and major water main breaks are proceeding.
If and when major water main breaks are located, repairs will be completed as weather and staffing permits. Currently an estimated restoration time cannot be determined.
Mayor and Council of the City of Milledgeville are aware of the major inconveniences these outages are creating and they, as well as, all city utility employees are working to restore everyone to full service. Information will be shared as updates are available and a more definitive timeline can be determined. We still ask that all customers please check your water lines and repair or cutoff the water at the water meter if leaks are occurring.
Update: 8:04 p.m. Dec. 25
Citizens of Baldwin County and Milledgeville are encouraged to conserve water. Extremely cold weather has caused hundreds of residential and business water breaks throughout our community. Please check your water lines and repair or cutoff the water at the water meter.
Customers may experience extremely low water pressure until repairs can be attempted and water tanks refill.