Officials hopeful boil water alert lifted today

Bloomfield Township officials are hopeful that water restrictions will be lifted sometime Friday, October 27, after a 48-inch water main at 14 Mile and Drake in Farmington Hills broke on Monday evening, October 23, affecting water service in 12 Oakland County communities.

“We expect to be able to lift the water restrictions Friday,” said township supervisor Leo Savoie on Thursday.

The water main on 14 Mile ruptured, leaving many township residents with reduced water pressure which has since been restored – but several other communities were in much worse situations, without any water at all.

“Many other communities, their systems were completely impacted much greater than we were,” Savoie said. “We were able to shut off our system at 14 Mile and Inkster and closed it off. If it had been left open, it would have completely drained our system.”

The new water main was installed Wednesday, and testing on the system began Thursday, with the first round of testing coming back negative and Rochester Hills and Oakland Township water service restored.

“If the second round comes out clean, it will be lifted tomorrow (Friday),” Savoie said on Thursday. Some other Oakland County communities may not have their boil water restrictions lifted until later in the weekend.

Once the all-clear is given, there are still precautions that must be taken, county officials warned.

“Communities which have had water restored are still under a boil water advisory,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for Oakland County. “Even after the boil water advisory has been lifted, it does not mean you can drink or use the water right away. Some residents, businesses, restaurants, and healthcare, school and childcare facilities need to be aware of devices, appliances, and other items that have been impacted.”

Stafford advised that residents should also be aware that they cannot wash fruit, vegetables, and food preparation surfaces, as well as use the ice or water from refrigerators until steps are followed to flush internal water systems and devices.