6-inch Water Main Break on North Elam Leaves 20 Without Water

A section of North Elam Avenue was closed after a 6-inch water main break left about 20 customers without service, city officials said. The closure affected the 300 block of North Elam Avenue, between West Friendly Avenue and Rolling Road, and city crews worked at the site to make repairs.

Crews were working through the afternoon and expected repairs to be completed, the road reopened and service restored by about 8 p.m. Tuesday, city officials said. Signs and traffic cones were in place around the work zone, and motorists were urged to use alternate routes to avoid congestion near West Friendly Avenue and Rolling Road while repairs continued.

For affected households, loss of water service interrupted routine activities from cooking and cleaning to personal hygiene. City officials advised residents that after service is restored, those who notice cloudy or discolored water should "run cold water for several minutes through a faucet without an aerator, such as a bathtub or outdoor spigot, until the water clears." Residents with ongoing issues were directed to report problems to Water Resources’ 24-hour dispatch at 336-373-2033, which handles main breaks, sewer stoppages, and changes in drinking water taste, odor or color.

The North Elam incident came amid a broader string of system stress in recent weeks. City officials reported there have been 65 water main breaks since Jan. 1, 2026, with 53 of those occurring on or after Jan. 24, when the first winter storm hit the area. That clustering of breaks has increased demand on Water Resources crews and on emergency response staffing for repairs across the city.

Local traffic and commuters should expect residual delays while crews finish site work and the city restores the roadway. Property owners and tenants in the 300 block and surrounding blocks should check fixtures after service returns and call dispatch if water remains discolored or if pressure problems persist.

This break underscores the practical impacts of repeated main failures on daily life in Greensboro neighborhoods and the strain they place on municipal crews. Residents can help by reporting any signs of leaks or water discoloration promptly to the Water Resources dispatch number and by following the city's post-restoration guidance to clear taps. Officials say they are continuing repairs and monitoring system performance as crews work to reopen the road and return service.