Residents scrutinize South Blooming Grove amid ongoing water crisis, dirty water and health violations

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Discolored water, health department violations and resident scrutiny are continuing to plague South Blooming Grove during a construction boom that’s left the rapidly growing village without enough water. Residents spoke out during a board meeting last month, and several people brought in water bottles showing brown water they said was from their sinks. “This is our water and here are the cups,” said one resident to the board. “Who’s going to drink this?” The village has had back-to-back water main breaks, boil water advisories and at least two Orange County Health Department violations for failure to maintain an adequate water supply. Despite the problems, new homes and businesses are regularly seen being constructed throughout the village. “This is not responsible growth. It's reckless, lawless and dangerous,” said a resident at the meeting who did not identify herself. The village has not responded to News 12's repeated inquiries for information about the water crisis or other resident concerns, since May. Leaders said in a Facebook post on Aug. 23 that relief is on the way, however, and posted that it’s getting more than $4.7 million from the state in a grant for a new 400,000-gallon water tank, two wells and the replacement of roughly one mile of water main. Another $5.2 million is being provided in low or no-interest financing, according to the post. “We are paying for water we can’t drink,” says Tijuana Perez. “We are buying water on top of the water bill.” News 12 last reported on the village’s water crisis in April when 58 water tanks were seen delivering water in one neighborhood in a month . Another water tank was seen on Monday while we were there for this report. Orange County has not responded to News 12's requests for information about the violations. "