Atlanta Boil Water Advisory Today After Hemphill Plant Power Failure

Atlanta residents in parts of the city were placed under a boil water advisory Friday after a power failure at the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant disrupted normal water system operations and raised concerns over low pressure in the distribution network.

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management said the advisory was issued on May 22 for parts of Atlanta, including the downtown corridor, after an internal power failure at the Hemphill facility. The city described the warning as a precautionary step taken under Georgia Environmental Protection Division public notice guidance.

The advisory applies to residents and businesses in the affected area, especially those who experienced low water pressure or a complete water outage. Local reports identified the impacted zone as including areas south of North Avenue, with Downtown Atlanta, Vine City, Inman Park, Grant Park and Peoplestown among the neighborhoods mentioned. Residents in Kirkwood also reported low pressure Friday morning.

Officials urged people in affected areas to boil tap water before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or preparing baby food. Water should be brought to a rolling boil and kept boiling for at least one minute before it is allowed to cool and be used. Bottled water is also considered a safe option while the advisory remains active.

The warning is especially important for infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may face greater health risks if unsafe water is consumed. The city also advised people not to drink from public water fountains in the impacted area until the advisory is lifted.

Boil water advisories are often issued after pressure drops because low pressure can allow bacteria or other contaminants to enter water lines. Atlanta officials have not said contamination has been confirmed. The advisory is meant to protect the public while crews monitor the system and complete required water sampling.

The Hemphill Water Treatment Plant is one of Atlanta’s key drinking water facilities. According to the city’s official capital improvement program, the plant is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has a maximum treatment capacity of 136.5 million gallons per day. More details about the facility are available through Atlanta’s official watershed infrastructure page: Hemphill Water Treatment Plant compliance improvements.

For households, the safest approach is to use boiled or bottled water for any activity where water could be swallowed. That includes making coffee, mixing infant formula, rinsing fruit and vegetables, preparing meals, brushing teeth and giving water to pets. Ice made before or during the advisory should be discarded if there is any chance it came from affected tap water.

Restaurants, cafes, offices, schools and healthcare sites in the advisory zone may also need to take extra precautions. Food service operations typically must avoid untreated tap water for drink machines, ice production, cooking and food preparation until safe water use is restored.

The advisory will remain in place until water pressure is stabilized and testing confirms that the water meets safety standards. The city said updates will be shared through the Department of Watershed Management website, local news outlets and official social media channels.

The latest incident comes after Atlanta faced major water system disruptions in 2024, when water main breaks caused outages, low pressure and boil water notices across parts of the city. That earlier crisis brought renewed attention to aging infrastructure and the need for reliable emergency communication during water service failures.

Readers can also follow related public safety coverage on Swikblog, including this report on another boil water warning: Thousands in Sudbury Told to Boil Tap Water After Adverse Samples Reported.

Until Atlanta officials lift the advisory, affected residents should continue boiling water for at least one minute before use, avoid public water fountains and check official city updates before returning to normal tap water use.