Water restored to Johnson City apartments after three-day outage

Update: Water has been restored, according to a resident.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Monday marks day three of residents of Watauga Square Apartments being without running water. Some of the residents in the building are elderly and/or disabled.

Tenants recalled seeing water flooding West Watauga Street last Friday. The property’s management company, Millennia Companies, said a water main break was found in the parking lot Friday afternoon, and after an inspection by the City of Johnson City, the company was advised to turn all water off to the 102-unit building and block off the parking lot.

Water jugs were distributed to residents, some elderly or disabled, by on-site management for tenants to use throughout the weekend.

“It’s been…that’s hard,” said resident Amara Carberry. “We’re spoiled. You don’t realize how spoiled you are until [you don’t have it].”

Monday afternoon, Carberry was taking her clothes to a laundromat. As she packed her vehicle, workers with Hometown Plumbing were digging dirt out from under the removed pavement of the parking lot, where tenants said the water line was.

Residents have used the water provided to complete tasks like flushing the toilet and cleaning dishes. Carberry used it to wash her hair.

“It has been like since Friday morning because I showered Friday morning and so I had to,” Carberry said.

Carberry said the on-site management has been communicating with tenants about the situation throughout the weekend.

“They’ve gone around to each of our apartments and explained the situation, and what we needed to be doing, and what they were going to be doing,” Carberry said.

Watauga Square Apartments accepts tenants who qualify for low-income, Section 8 housing. Carberry told News Channel 11 she is one of those tenants.

“All counties recognize water as an essential service,” said attorney Jack Inman with Norris, Bush and Byrd. “It’s one of the most basic things. Every tenant is entitled to water.”

According to Inman, tenants in public housing have elevated rights over the general population.

“If there’s been a lack of water over 24 hours, and that seems to be the case then these tenants are entitled to a transfer to a different unit where there is running water,” Inman said.

Carberry said she had heard of this and that it would be taken out of her next month’s rent. Inman did not recommend her doing this without it in writing.

“But most of [us residents], we’re not rich by any means in here so we really don’t have any extra money just to go rent a hotel,” Carberry said.

As residents watch the progress, they said they are working with what they can until their water is restored.

Tenants were receiving mixed information on when the water would be restored. Some said it could be anywhere from Monday to Friday until water was restored.

A spokesperson with Millennia Companies told News Channel 11 water should be restored in 24 hours. They said the city has installed a temporary water tap to provide utilities. Additionally, the Johnson City Fire Department delivered two pallets of water for residents on Monday.

“The management team is working to remedy this issue as soon as possible, will continue to update residents on repair progress, and apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused,” said Kendall Maggard, manager of communications for Millennia Companies.

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