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Pump Station Glitch Causes N. Atlanta Tap Water Alert

Doug Payne - Staff

Thursday, June 29, 2000

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION

A failure at an Atlanta water pumping station Wednesday resulted in water officials issuing an immediate "boil water" advisory for ''tens of thousands'' of residents of North Atlanta.

An unknown electrical problem caused equipment to fail at the Northside Pumping Station on Moore's Mill Road, United Water Services operations director Don Goodroe said. That dropped the system's water pressure.

Any time pressure in the system drops, it is possible to get "back siphonage," where bacteria could flow back into the system, he said. He described the boil water advisory --- in effect for at least 24 hours --- as a safety measure.

Goodroe said the problem potentially affects ''tens of thousands'' but could not be more specific.

The affected area is generally from the Lenox Square neighborhood to the northern city limits. The area is bounded on the south side by East Paces Ferry Road and Ferncliff Road, on the west by Roswell Road and on the east by the DeKalb County line.

Neither water company nor Georgia Power Co. officials could say what caused the electrical problem.

Water used for drinking, cooking or preparing baby food should be held at a rolling boil for at least one minute.

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), June 29, 2000