Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management lifted a boil water advisory impacting approximately 50,000 customers on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. The advisory had been issued Friday following an internal power failure at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant and affected downtown residents and businesses as well as neighborhoods including Vine City, Grant Park, Mechanicsville, portions of Inman Park, Peoplestown, and Pittsburgh.
The department tested 25 water samples over an 18-hour period. Officials stated: "Sampling results have confirmed that no contamination was detected in the public water system. Water may be used for all purposes without boiling." The drinking water met or exceeded EPA standards as mandated by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
The power outage prompted the precautionary advisory, though electricity was restored to the pump station Friday afternoon and water service was reinstated. The Hemphill plant provides potable water to homes, retailers, commercial and industrial businesses within Atlanta and parts of south Fulton County, plus fire hydrants citywide.
The advisory affected major Atlanta attractions. The World of Coca-Cola temporarily closed beverage dispensers at certain exhibits. Georgia State University's downtown campus and Atlanta Public Schools buildings within the advisory zone received bottled water. Additionally, a separate massive fish kill was reported stretching at least 20 miles along the Chattahoochee River, possibly connected to earlier heavy rains and flooding.
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution