In Atlanta, some residents are still facing water problems following a massive leak that occurred over the weekend. Milena Franco, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, shared her frustration as she discovered the water flow had been cut off on Monday morning when she attempted to take a shower. The city had shut down the water supply in the immediate neighborhood as part of the efforts to fix the broken water main that had been gushing water into the streets since Friday night.

Although the geyser finally ran dry on Monday morning, a large portion of the city is still under a boil water advisory, even in areas where water pressure has been restored after the initial repair of another major leak on Saturday. Despite the ongoing efforts, some residents are expressing their dissatisfaction with the pace of repairs and the lack of information provided by the city.

Mayor Dickens emphasized the city's focus on addressing the water problems during a news conference at the site of the water main break on Monday. However, the conference ended abruptly due to resident Rhett Scircle's frustrated inquiries about when water service would be restored and if there was an estimated timeline for repairs.

Commissioner Al Wiggins Jr. refrained from providing an estimate for when water would resume flowing, even as excavation work continued at the scene. The outage has affected thousands of residents, with the initial leak caused by corrosion in a junction of three water mains and the subsequent Midtown leak occurring at a junction of two large water pipes, making repairs challenging.

While certain areas in Atlanta's northern and southern ends were unaffected and did not face water pressure issues or boil water orders, the disruptions have posed significant challenges for many residents. Some high-rise office buildings remained closed on Monday, citing insufficient water pressure to run air conditioning units and supply water to upper floors.

Mayor Dickens, who was away for a political fundraiser in Memphis, Tennessee, apologized for the city's response and promised regular updates, but residents continue to criticize the lack of clear communication. The city has declared a state of emergency, allowing for expedited procurement and hiring, but the cost of the emergency has yet to be determined.

The water infrastructure in older parts of American cities, including Atlanta, has long been a concern. The city has invested billions in recent years to upgrade its aging sewer and water infrastructure. These improvements include a 5-mile-long tunnel drilled through rock to provide the city with over a month's worth of stored water. Last month, voters approved a 1-cent sales tax to fund federally mandated sewer upgrades, reflecting the ongoing efforts to address the city's infrastructure challenges.

Commissioner Wiggins affirmed that continuous work is being done on Atlanta's water system. Residents affected by the water disruption can still obtain free bottled water at local fire stations. As repairs progress slowly, residents are hopeful that water services will be fully restored soon, alleviating their frustrations and inconveniences.