After a major Oakland County water mainbreak caused widespread water disruptions across several communities, Oakland University announced Monday that all Main Campus buildings, including campus apartments, are under a boil water advisory issued by the City of Auburn Hills.
The advisory took effect immediately Monday morning at 11:10 a.m. and remains active until further notice, according to a campus wide message sent by OU.
The university also stated that the advisory comes in addition to the water conservation order already affecting campus.
Students, faculty and staff are instructed to boil tap water for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, brushing teeth or making ice.
University officials said additional guidance would be sent to students living in campus housing.
The university previously notified students about water service interruptions through an emergency text sent at 9:19 a.m. on May 8 stating, ” O.U. ADVISORY: Water service interrupted in some university buildings. Visit oakland.edu for more information.”
A second emergency text message was sent to students at 10:56 a.m. on May 11 stating, “O.U. ADVISORY: Boil water advisory in effect. Visit oakland.edu for more information.”
The advisory follows a major rupture involving a 42-inch transmission line near River Woods Park in Auburn Hills.
The damaged line is part of the Great Lakes Water Authority system, which supplies water to multiple Oakland County communities.
Officials said the line broke around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday after a leak had previously been identified earlier in the week.
Impacted communities may continue experiencing low water pressure, outages and boil water advisories while repairs continue. County officials warned some residents could experience disruptions for at least two weeks.
Communities affected by the emergency include Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, Lake Orion, Pontiac Township and Oakland Township.
Officials have urged residents and businesses to reduce water usage to essential needs while the city continues to stabilize the system.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Monday in response to the ongoing water emergency affecting portions of Oakland County.
The advisory directly affects thousands of students who use Main Campus facilities daily, including those living in residence halls and university apartments.
Students on campus may experience disruptions involving drinking water, cooking and other daily activities while the advisory remains active.
OU has not announced when the boil water advisory may be lifted. Updates are expected to continue through emergency notification and the university website.
Students with housing-related questions were directed to contact OU Housing at (248) 370-3570.
University officials encouraged students and employees to continue monitoring official university communications and public health guidelines as repair efforts continue throughout Oakland County.
