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'Some progress' made after Auburn Hills water main break
Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said crews are making progress as they work to remove and replace a broken water main in Auburn Hills. That break could leave people in his township, part of Auburn Hills, and Lake Orion without water for weeks.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (FOX 2) - Parts of Oakland County are still asked to restrict their water usage after a water main break Sunday in Auburn Hills led to several communities switching to reserve water sources.
Since the break around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Orion Township, Lake Orion, and northern Auburn Hills have been receiving water from towers, not the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA).
"Nothing has changed as far as the water restrictions and the boil water alert for our community," Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said Monday morning.
Water restrictions
Water restrictions are in place for Orion Township, Lake Orion, Rochester Hills, and the northern portion of Auburn Hills.
Barnett advised those in the impacted areas "to use extreme discretion." This means that residents and businesses should avoid taking long showers, running dishwashers and washing machines, and watering grass until further notice.
Once the reserve water sources run out, Orion Township, Lake Orion, and part of Auburn Hills will be completely without water.
Auburn Hills water main break could leave some Oakland County residents without water for 2 weeks
Water is expected to run out in Orion Township, Lake Orion, and northern Auburn Hills after a main break in Auburn Hills early Sunday.
Boil water advisories
Lake Orion, Orion Township, part of Auburn Hills, the northwest corner of Rochester Hills, and a small portion of southwest Oakland Township remain under boil water advisories.
(Photo: Oakland County)
Are you impacted by the water main break?
If you aren't sure if you are impacted by the break, Oakland County has released an interactive map to search your address.
What's next:
Barnett said some progress has been made, but it's going to be a long process to repair the broken main and get water flowing back from GLWA sources.
He said the old, broken pipe should be removed soon to make room for the new pipe, but that will still take time.
Crews work to repair a broken water main in Auburn Hills on May 11, 2026
"That's going to take several days in the best case scenario," Barnett said.
Barnett noted that toilets can still be flushed sparingly, but portable toilets are expected to arrive soon.
Water distribution
GLWA has deployed water trucks to three locations at this time. These trucks are capable of providing 2,000 one-gallon containers in each trip, and those impacted are able to receive two gallons at the distribution sites.
They are currently expected to operate from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., but may close temporarily to be refilled.
- Orion Township – Wildwood Amphitheater, 2700 Joslyn Court
- Auburn Hills – Auburn Hills Department of Public Works, 1500 Brown Road
- Lake Orion – Atwater Park, 426 Atwater Street
Barnett said five semi-trucks of water are expected to arrive Monday.
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Water distribution underway after Auburn Hills water main break
Three sites in Oakland County will be distributing water again after a water main break in Auburn Hills. Residents in Lake Orion, Orion Township, and northern Auburn Hills have been alerted that they could be without water for weeks due to the break.
The Source: An interview with Chis Barnett was used.
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