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DeKalb County repairs water main break overnight
DeKalb County Watershed has completed the repairs to the water main break that left several residential halls without water last night, Emory University’s Housing Operations office wrote in an email to residential students this morning. The office added that campus buildings are now back to “normal operations.”
The update came about 12 hours after students studying in the Robert W. Woodruff Library were forced to evacuate around 9 p.m. last night. The library closed after a pipe broke in the second floor male restroom, which is likely connected to the main break, Emory Libraries Special Operations and Access Assistant Laurel Fox told the Wheel yesterday.
The Housing Operations office initially alerted Atlanta residential students of the main break, which occurred on nearby Clifton and Oxford roads, and the resulting water pressure issues in an email around 7:30 p.m. last night.
Although students may continue to notice “slight discoloration” to their water, the email stated that the campus water supply is still safe to use and instructed students to allow the water to run until it is clear.
Campus Systems flushed Emory’s water systems overnight and will still check the systems throughout today, according to the email. The University will also continue to provide students with water dispensers in the Emory Student Center, Hopkins Hall lobby, Woodruff Residential Center and the Clairmont campus’ Student Activity and Academic Center today.
Water main break to be repaired this evening
DeKalb County Watershed anticipates completing repairs to the water main break that left several residential halls without water earlier this evening in “the next few hours,” Emory University’s Housing Operations office wrote in an email to residential students at 10:45 p.m.
Students walk toward Asbury Circle from the Robert W. Woodruff Library after the building evacuated around 9 p.m. on Oct. 25. (Matthew Chupack/Editor-in-Chief)
The update comes less than two hours after students studying in the Robert W. Woodruff library were forced to evacuate around 9 p.m. this evening. The library closed after a pipe broke in the second floor male restroom, which is likely connected to the main break, Emory Libraries Special Operations and Access Assistant Laurel Fox told the Wheel earlier this evening.
The Housing Operations office initially alerted Atlanta residential students of the main break, which occurred on nearby Clifton and Oxford roads, and the resulting water pressure issues in an email around 7:30 p.m.
Water pressures may “continue to be inconsistent” until the repairs are completed, the Housing Operations office wrote. Although students also may continue to notice “slight discoloration” to their water due to sediment in the line, the email stated that the campus water supply is still safe to use. There is no boil water advisory in place at the time.
The University will continue to provide students with water dispensers in the Emory Student Center, Hopkins Hall lobby, Woodruff Residential Center and the Clairmont campus’ Student Activity and Academic Center as the main break is remedied.
Update (10/26/23 at 11:30 a.m.): This article was updated to reflect that the DeKalb County Watershed completed repairs to the water main break.
Madi Olivier is from Highland Village, Texas, and is majoring in psychology and minoring in rhetoric, writing and information design. Outside of the Wheel, she is involved in psychology research and works for the Trevor Project. In her free time, you can find her trying not to fall while bouldering and watching Criminal Minds with her cat.
