Hundreds left without running water for days
SHELDON, Texas (KTRK) -- More than a thousand people in Harris County are without dependable water. The ongoing situation unfolded earlier this week in the Beaumont Place neighborhood. Josh Berkery told ABC13 families are frustrated and want answers.
"You get more aggravated because nobody is doing anything to resolve the water issue. Every time we call, we get the same runaround. The water never comes on," said Berkery. "You don't know what's going to happen. It makes it that much worse."
Rapper TraeThaTruth donated bottled water after hearing about the problem. Volunteers passed it out to families in need at Royalwood Elementary on Friday evening.
Quadvest issued the following statement to Eyewitness News when asked for comment:
"On March 27, 2017, the Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued an Emergency Order appointing Quadvest L.P. as the Temporary Manager of Suburban Utility Company. The Emergency Order affected approximately 1,350 customers in the Castlewood, Beaumont Place, Reservoir Acres and Cypress Bend Subdivision in Harris County. On March 29, 2017 Quadvest began operating the Suburban systems. The initial assessment of the water systems revealed water plants and underground infrastructure in disrepair and operating at minimal capacity. None of the water plants were fully operational and the system-wide water loss was in excess of 40%. In their role as Temporary Manager, Quadvest did not receive any additional funding to make capital expenditures for repairs to the system. Despite a lack of funding to make necessary major repairs, Quadvest began working to ensure that residents' water service went uninterrupted to the best of their ability.
Over the past five days, Quadvest has experienced the 'perfect storm' scenario at Beaumont Place. Over the past two months or so, the Danvers water well experienced diminished production of approximately 33%. Beginning Sunday, September 17th, both water plants began weakening, by Monday the system was receiving minimal water production. Both water plants in this system have to be functioning in order for the neighborhood to be properly pressurized. The initial action was to replace the booster pumps at the Danvers plant and initiate leak detection throughout the system. Three leaks were found and repaired on Tuesday.
Late on Wednesday afternoon the Flagstaff water well quit producing, requiring a late-night extraction of the well pump. A new well pump was installed on Thursday, because of the advanced deteriorated condition of the water well, the water well company did not advise "blowing out" the well, which involves introducing high-pressure air into the well casing any debris and scale. Their concern was the well casing is in very poor condition and may be ruined as a result of this process. The new well pump was installed but production was minimal. The crew made some adjustments and by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, four locations in varying parts of the subdivision were sustaining +25 psi. By Friday morning the system was not production enough to supply the neighborhood again. Residents have been living without water, which is unacceptable in the eyes of the Quadvest leadership team.
Today the Flagstaff water well was blown out in an effort to regain water production. Unfortunately, the blowout was unsuccessful. Another procedure to regain water production will be initiated overnight. Currently there is water service in the subdivision, however it will be intermittent for the next 24 hours. We realize that the families in the affected subdivision have had to endure an extended length of time without water; we are working as quickly and efficiently as possible to get water flowing again through the antiquated systems."
