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Repair Failure Floods Fulton County Jail With 70,000 Gallons

The incident renews scrutiny of recurring plumbing breakdowns at the Rice Street facility.

Overview

  • Detention staff reported a third-floor medical unit toilet leak just after 5 a.m., and a pipe coupling failed during repairs, unleashing widespread flooding.
  • Water drenched the front entrance and lobby, the medical clinic, the officers' fining room, parts of the server room, and courtrooms, according to the sheriff's office.
  • Water service was shut off during the response and later restored, with restoration crews extracting standing water and evaluating the extent of the damage.
  • The sheriff's office said no inmate residential housing was affected, though the front lobby is expected to remain closed at least through Sunday.
  • Officials noted recent water incidents at the jail, including $1 million in server repairs after an Oct. 11, 2025 pipe burst, as Commissioner Mo Ivory criticized unsafe conditions for detainees and staff.