11 Oakland County areas under boil-water alert

A water main break has prompted the Great Lakes Water Authority to issue a mandatory boil water alert for 11 Oakland County communities.

The alert has prompted dozens of school closings Tuesday. Novi Public Schools officials are asking students to attend with bottled water. The Great Lakes Water Authority said Tuesday morning water was shut off in Novi because of the water main break. Repairs could take up to five days.

The transmission main break on 14 Mile Road between Farmington and Drake sparked a drop in water pressure, authority officials said.

While the water authority investigates the cause, the boil-water alert remains in effect for Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, Novi, Rochester Hills, Walled Lake, West Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Wixom as well as the Hills of Oakland and Kings Pointe subdivisions in Oakland Township, according to the alert, which reported the break at about 5:45 p.m. Monday.

Residents must bring all water to a boil for at least one minute before using. Boiled, bottled or disinfected water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food until further notice.

The GLWA continues to investigate the cause of the break. The organization said whenever a system loses pressure, precautionary measures are recommended since the pressure loss can lead to bacterial contamination in the system. Boiling water before using will kill bacteria and other organisms that may be in the water. The GLWA will alert affected communities when the boil water advisory has been lifted.

Guidelines on reducing the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.