TRI-CITY AREA — One week after the Great Lakes Water Authority announced a boil water advisory for the village of Almont and Imlay City, the order was lifted Saturday, Aug. 20. It was first issued August 13 when GLWA discovered a break in a 120 inch water main in St. Clair County.
The news came as a surprise considering that the agency had just the day before reaffirmed it would take a total of three weeks to replace the broken main. According to the agency, the advisory was lifted for all seven affected communities after treatment requirements and pressure standards were met within the “regional transmission and local distribution system.” The other five communities under the boil water advisory included Bruce Township, Burtchville Township, City of Rochester, Shelby Township, and Washington Township, plus an industrial park in Romeo.
In Imlay City, officials said late on Monday the city will continue to be “primarily serviced” by Imlay City standby wells until the main is fixed.
Although the lifting of the advisory was welcomed, Lapeer County Emergency Manager (LCEM) Jeffrey Satkowski noted it does not necessarily mean the water system is back to normal operations.
“The repairs are still estimated to be completed by September 3,” Satkowski said. “There remains a possibility that the advisory could go back into effect if there is a serious problem with the system.”
Meanwhile, Satkowski, in coordination with the Village of Almont, City of Imlay City and GLWA authorities, is encouraging residents to continue limiting their water use to essential needs only.
“The goal is to preserve the current state of the water system and to help avoid a problem that would bring the boil water advisory back into effect,” Satkowski said.
Last week, GLWA announced that staff and consultants would be inspecting the affected water line between their Lake Huron Water Treatment Facility and Imlay Township pumping station on Wheeling Road while it’s not filled with pressurized water. In St. Clair and Lapeer counties, the water line roughly runs along Metcalf and Bowers roads.
A checklist for both residents and businesses on what to do following a boil water advisory was posted to the agency’s website, glwater.org, and Facebook page.
Tom Wearing started at the Tri-City Times in 1989, covering the Village of Capac as a beat reporter. He later served stints as assistant editor and editor. Today, he covers Imlay City and Almont as a staff writer. He enjoys music and plays drums and sings with various musical groups in the Detroit Metropolitan area.
