NOVI (WWJ) -- A sizable water main break is causing widespread problems in Oakland County — with a Boil Water Advisory in effect, and schools and businesses closed as a result.
The break is in Novi, along 14 Mile Road just west of M-5. As a result, 14 Mile Rd. is closed in both directions, with traffic being diverted. Drivers should avoid the area.
Tens of thousands of Oakland County residents, and some businesses, are without water service this morning, and others are reporting low water pressure.
Affected municipalities include Novi, Walled Lake, Wixom, and Commerce Township.
Reporting from the scene of the break, WWJ's Charlie Langton said, "Neighbors tell me that around 7 o'clock they woke up to brush their teeth, and what do you know? Almost no water; they couldn't do it."
"And, what we're told here by some of the GLWA people — that's the Great Lakes Water Authority — they're on the scene and they're mapping out what to do next. But there's a lot of water coming out, really on both sides of 14 Mile."
Novi Community School District Superintendent Ben Mainka says all schools in the district are closed on Thursday, with no water in school buildings due to this incident.
If it was just low pressure, Mainka said they could bring in bottled water for students and staff, "But, unfortunately, it becomes an unsanitary and untenable situation when you have toilets that won't flush for extended periods of time."
Five schools in Walled Lake are also closed: Hickory Woods, Meadowbrook, Mary Helen Guest, Walled Lake Elementary and the Early Childhood Center. Also, Detroit Catholic Central is closed.
At Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital, they are using bottled water and not using sinks or tap water for anything. Officials at the hospital say patient care is not impacted and remains their top priority.
Henry Ford Medical Center – Columbus, on 12 Mile Rd. in Novi, is closed.
Emagine Novi is closed.
Meanwhile, the Novi Water Department and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are investigating the problem.
Novi City Spokeswoman Sheryl Walsh-Molloy said the investigation, repairs and cleanup are expected to take hours.
"It's a GLWA transmission main. They are on site, their field service crews, working alongside our public works team, to isolate the break," she said. "So, the hope is that they'll be able to isolate the break, redirect the flow and stabilize the pressure within the next several hours."
Walsh-Molloy said once the water is restored to the area, residents will remain under a Boil Water Advisory while testing is conducted to ensure that there's no dangerous bacteria in the water.
They will require receive two negative tests, 24 hours apart, to lift the Boil Water Advisory. If you are on a well, you are not impacted by the advisory.
As for a timeline, there isn't much of one yet. Early in the afternoon, GLWA said its Field Service Crews were on site and beginning to isolate the main. There is currently no estimated time for repairs.
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