Boil water advisory still in effect for downtown Atlanta corridor

ATLANTA –City officials are reminding residents in the downtown corridor to boil tap water for at least one minute before use. The advisory is expected to be lifted by Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m., pending confirmation of water quality results.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) issued the advisory after experiencing a temporary loss of electrical service at the Hemphill Electric Pumping Station due to an internal power failure. This disruption resulted in low water pressure in portions of the system.

While power has been restored and the facility is now fully operational, a precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for impacted areas. As part of standard protocol, DWM is conducting system flushing and water quality sampling to ensure there is no contamination. 

DWM remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of its customers and appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation during this time, officials stated in an update Friday night(May 22). 

Impacted Areas

As a precaution and in accordance with public health guidance, the boil water advisory applies to areas within the downtown corridor, impacting approximately 50,000 customers.

Residents are encouraged to refer to the Public Alerts Map below to confirm whether they are within the affected area. 

What Residents Should Do

Customers in impacted areas should boil all water used for:

◦           Drinking

◦           Cooking

◦           Brushing teeth


◦           Making ice

◦           Food preparation

Water should be boiled for at least one minute past a rolling boil.

For the latest updates, residents are encouraged to follow local news outlets and DWM’s social medical channels, including Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.