FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — Water pressure has started to return in Novi and Walled Lake after a massive water main break in Farmington Hills on Saturday morning, the Great Lakes Water Authority tells us.
Watch Jolie's report in the video below
GLWA said that water is currently entering Novi's system. They also say that water pressure returned in Walled Lake late last night, thanks to an emergency connection from Commerce Township.
Watch our previous coverage
Residents in both cities were without water earlier this weekend. The break occurred at 4:30 a.m. Saturday on 14 Mile near Verona Road in Farmington Hills, between Drake and Farmington roads. A 48-inch pipe burst, sending water gushing into the street and turning the roadway into what looked like a river.
Officials say that crews worked through the night to remove water from the break site, and began removing damaged pipe this morning. GLWA estimates that installation of the new steel main will be completed on Monday.
One family we spoke to saw significant flooding in their Farmington Hills backyard.
“I told him if he had a boat, we could go swimming out here. From here to over there, that water is about 5 feet deep," said Marcos Daminos. “That was probably the worst it ever got, when it rains a lot it probably gets to right around there, but never this high.”
We're told that the Boil Water Advisory remains in effect in both cities until water quality testing is completed and comes back clear.
In Novi on Sunday morning, residents stopped by the Department of Public Works to pick up drinkable water. One resident we spoke said it's been inconveinent, as well as costly.
“It’s been a mess. We recently had this just five months ago and we’re back in same.. so running around for water," said Shrinivas Arcota. “We need to spend like hundreds of dollars to get outside food, and most of the restaurants are also closed. It’s like a pandemic situation, where do we go?”
One family of five that we talked to came with their trunk full of water bottles and buckets.
“Not having water is pretty hard though. We cook a lot, so even if we have to wash dishes, wash up, take a shower," said Lillian Burke.
“Flushing is the biggest part. Going to get a bottle of water from Kroger, Meijer, that’s easy peasy. But flushing the toilet, that’s a little bit harder," said Novi resident Matt Chivell.
GLWA provided another update to us on Sunday afternoon.
""But I can say that today at this point, the pressures are near normal. We are still working to do some flushing and disinfecting of pipes. These are the steps that we have to take in order for us to get the system off the boil water advisories," said GLWA CEO Suzanne Coffey. "This is not the level of service they deserve. This is not the level of service that we expect to provide. So, we are very disappointed that this occurred as well. It's not something we did that created it, but we do have responsibility for these pipes. It's our responsibility to get in them, to inspect them, to look for vulnerable pipes, and to do the best that we can to avoid the situation, which we will continue to do."
Both Walled Lake and Novi are under a Boil Water Advisory until repairs are completed. For further questions regarding the boil water advisory, click here.
