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Forsyth utilities says water main break may be fixed tomorrow

The city of Winston-Salem skyline.
Courtesy Winston-Salem Forsyth County Utilities
The water main transports treated water to customers throughout the eastern portion of Forsyth County, including downtown Winston-Salem, Kernersville and Walkertown.

*Update at 10:25 p.m. on July 30, 2026: In a press release, officials said, "Water service has been restored to all Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities customers affected by the July 29 water main break. Effective immediately, the boil water advisory has been lifted for a portion of the impacted area after laboratory testing confirmed the water is safe for human consumption. Customers in the remaining impacted area must continue to boil water until additional testing is completed."

A water main break yesterday disrupted service to around 200,000 Forsyth County residents. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Director Courtney Driver says the issue could be fixed by Friday morning.

"Assuming that we don’t hit any other major challenges, we are anticipating that the pipe will be repaired," Driver says. "Crews are working through the night.”

The Utilities Administration has started an 18-hour water quality testing process. It’s then up to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Public Water Supply Section to confirm results.

If it’s safe, the current boil advisory will be lifted in select areas. Until then, it remains in place. Updates on affected regions can be found on an interactive map available online.