Auburn Hills and Orion Residents Asked to Prepare for Potential Water Main Break

(Oakland County Times, May 9, 2026)

Auburn Hills, Orion Township, MI – As crews work to repair a water main leak, residents in part of Auburn Hills, plus all of Orion Township including the Village of Lake Orion are being asked to stay alert for updates and to prepare for potential water service loss if the pipe were to break.

According to City of Auburn Hills “There is currently a leak on the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA)’s 42-inch water transmission main located at River Woods Park in Auburn Hills. GLWA crews are on site and prepared to respond if the pipe were to break.

The map below shows the areas that would be impacted if the transmission main were to break. This map is being shared as a precaution to help alert residents in advance of a potential failure. Residents are also encouraged to review the CDC’s recommendations on preparing an emergency water supply in the event of a water outage.

“At this time, the situation remains stable, and GLWA continues to monitor it closely. We will provide updates and all necessary information if conditions change. Currently, there are no water restrictions in place, however, restrictions may be required if the transmission main breaks.”

Orion Township has shared similar warnings, and has formally declared a State of Emergency in response to the potential for rapidly evolving conditions related to the potential water issues.

“In preparation for such an occurrence, Orion Township has developed coordinated emergency response protocols designed to preserve public health and safety. These measures include the establishment of multiple emergency water distribution locations and focused assistance for vulnerable populations, should service disruption occur,” the alert says.

Orion Township residents and business owners are encouraged to sign up for CivicPlus updates, which can be done online at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/?RegionId=2198 or by texting OrionMI to 38276.

As far as emergency water supplies, the CDC states that “Unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. Store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days. You can use this water during an emergency for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and other uses. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible. Consider storing more water than this for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or if you live in a hot climate.”