AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Crews worked through the night and continue to work to repair a massive water main break that has disrupted life for thousands of metro Detroit residents.
GLWA is expected to provide an update at 11 a.m. Tuesday. You can watch it live here
The break occurred Sunday morning at River Woods Park in Auburn Hills. You'll hear the sound of progress there. But for those living in the shadow of this 42-inch water main break, it can’t happen fast enough. From dry taps to limited bathroom use, the impact is being felt across several communities.
Watch Darren Cunningham's video report below:
The work has been non-stop. At 3:15 a.m. Monday, emergency contractors finally cut through the mangled pipe, hauling it out of the ground just an hour later.
Lake Orion resident Paul Holland said he and his family are trying to make do as they do their part to conserve water.
“My family’s all struggling with it. I’ve got two children and my wife and I," he explained.
Jeffrey Lindblom reports more on repairs, speaking with Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett below:
Watch Brittany Toolis' report below
Holland also showed us a water-filled pouch he was given.
“This is what they gave. One per person," Holland said while holding up the pouch of water.
When asked what the top concern he's hearing from residents is, Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said "the frustration and annoyance of not being able to take a shower, barely being able to flush the toilet, so that's hard."
Barnett says they’d been aware of a water main leak since Friday. They were hoping it wouldn’t budge until the Great Lakes Water Authority could build a bypass.
“Plan B was where we are now,” Barnett said.
He says that’s why the immediate water restrictions went into place because if it ran out, so would the pressure it provides to not only faucets but also critical things like fire hydrants.
“That’s a very dangerous situation,” Barnett said.
Related video: Great Lakes Water Authority responds to water main break
He says he’s thankful residents reacted to the restrictions positively.
"And we saw the tower actually rise a little bit,” Barnett said. “We want safe, clean drinking water, but we want pressure.”
Related video: Lake Orion restaurants scramble to survive after water main break shuts down businesses
While the installation of the new segment began late Monday morning, getting the water flowing again isn't as simple as flipping a switch. GLWA officials originally estimated a 10- to 14-day window for full restoration. It's a timeline they are desperately trying to shrink.
"So, the good thing is this has been going well. Sometimes, underground construction does not," GLWA CEO Suzanne Coffey said.
The current best-case scenario is that this was a single pipe break rather than a failure at a joint involving multiple sections. While the physical installation is targeted to wrap up by Monday night, the water isn't safe until it’s tested and disinfected.
“We're hoping that after they finish that construction activity, we're able to come back with a different timeline. But we don't know for sure until they finish that construction activity,” Coffey said.
Related video: Seniors at Lake Orion independent living facility face evacuation fears amid boil water advisory
Until then, the reality remains stark for families in Orion Township, Lake Orion, Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills.
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7 News Detroit reporter Jeffrey Lindblom contributed to this report.
