If you just turned on the tap in Walled Lake or Novi and the water looks a little cloudy—or worse, totally normal—you might be in for a surprise. There is a Walled Lake boil water alert currently active for specific sections of the community, and honestly, it’s a massive headache for everyone involved. Nobody wants to spend their Tuesday night boiling pots of water just to brush their teeth. But here we are. This isn't just about a broken pipe; it’s about a significant drop in water pressure that makes the system vulnerable to bacteria like E. coli or Giardia.
Why is this happening in Walled Lake?
The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) usually handles the heavy lifting, but when a main breaks or power fails at a pumping station, the pressure in those massive underground pipes drops. Think of it like a straw. When you're sucking through it, everything is fine. But if you stop, things can seep back in. When the pressure drops below 20 psi, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) mandates a boil water advisory. It’s a safety net.
It happens fast. One minute you're doing laundry, the next, your phone is buzzing with an emergency alert. Usually, these breaks happen near major intersections like 14 Mile or Pontiac Trail, where the infrastructure is aging and the ground shift during Michigan's "freeze-thaw" cycle puts immense stress on the iron.
What you can and cannot do right now
You've got to be careful. Drinking it is obviously out. But what about the dishwasher? Most experts, including those at the Oakland County Health Division, say you should avoid using the dishwasher unless it has a high-heat sanitizing cycle that reaches at least 150°F. If it doesn't, you're basically just coating your plates in potentially contaminated water.
Shower with your mouth shut. Seriously. Adults are usually fine to shower, but keep the water away from your face. For kids and toddlers who tend to swallow bath water, stick to a sponge bath using pre-boiled or bottled water. It’s a pain, but it beats a week of stomach cramps. Also, don't forget the pets. Dogs and cats are just as susceptible to waterborne pathogens as we are. Fill their bowls with the bottled stuff for now.
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The timeline for the Walled Lake boil water alert
Everyone wants to know when it ends. The short answer? Not until two consecutive sets of samples come back clean.
Once the broken pipe is patched—which the crews usually do in the mud and cold within about 10 to 12 hours—the real waiting game begins. The city has to flush the lines. They open the hydrants, and you’ll see water gushing into the streets. Then, they take samples. Each sample takes roughly 24 hours to incubate in a lab. If the first one is clean, they do a second. If that’s clean, the Walled Lake boil water alert gets lifted.
Usually, you're looking at a 48-to-72-hour window from the moment the pressure is restored. If a sample fails, the clock restarts. It’s frustrating, but the lab techs aren't trying to be difficult; they’re making sure nobody gets sick.
Handling food and ice machines
This is where people mess up. Your fridge’s ice maker is likely still running. If you had a drop in pressure, that ice is potentially contaminated. You need to dump the entire bin.
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- Throw away any ice made during the alert.
- Flush the water line to the fridge for at least five minutes once the alert is lifted.
- Replace the water filter if it's an older model that might have trapped sediment.
Cooking is another gray area. If you're boiling pasta, the water will reach 212°F anyway, so you're safe. But washing lettuce? No way. Use bottled water for anything that won't be cooked. Local restaurants in the Walled Lake and Commerce area often have to switch to limited menus or bring in bags of ice during these alerts just to stay open.
The "Total Coliform" vs. "E. Coli" distinction
Sometimes you'll hear the city mention "Total Coliform." Don't panic immediately. Coliforms are a broad group of bacteria. Most are harmless. However, they act as "indicator organisms." If they are present, it means there's a pathway for nastier stuff to get in. If they find E. coli, that's when things get serious. In the current Walled Lake situation, the alert is mostly "precautionary" because of the pressure loss, not because a specific pathogen was actually detected yet. It's a "better safe than sorry" protocol.
Dealing with "Rusty" water after the fix
When the water comes back on, it might look brown or orange. That’s just iron sediment that got stirred up when the pressure changed or when the fire hydrants were opened for flushing.
Don't run your hot water first.
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If you do, you’ll pull that sediment right into your water heater, where it’ll sit at the bottom like sludge. Instead, run your cold water tap in the bathtub for about 10 minutes. Why the tub? Because it doesn't have an aerator screen that will get clogged with grit. Once the water runs clear there, you’re usually good to go for the rest of the house.
Practical Steps for Walled Lake Residents
Keep a "boil water kit" ready for the next time this happens. It's Michigan; it will happen again.
- Keep 3 gallons of bottled water per person. That’s enough for about three days of basic needs.
- Locate your main shut-off valve. If a pipe bursts inside your home due to a pressure surge, you need to know how to kill the water fast.
- Sign up for Oakland County’s "OakAlert." This is the fastest way to get notified. Don't rely on Facebook groups; half the information there is usually wrong or outdated.
- Check on your neighbors. Particularly the elderly on your street who might not see the digital alerts or have the physical strength to carry heavy pots of water.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are currently under the Walled Lake boil water alert, your immediate priority is to stop using the tap for consumption. Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute before letting it cool for use. Store it in clean, covered containers.
Once the city officially gives the "all clear" signal via their website or emergency broadcast, you must flush your household pipes. Run every cold water faucet for five minutes. Run your drinking fountains and replace any filters connected to your sink or refrigerator. For water heaters, if you noticed significant sediment, it may be worth draining a few gallons from the bottom valve to ensure the tank remains efficient. Keep an eye on the official Walled Lake city website for the specific street-by-street map of the affected area to see if your address has been cleared.