Pocono News Section

Frustrations Grow Over Stockton Water Woes

Frustrations Grow Over Stockton Water Woes - Monday, October 13, 2008 at 6:09PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Oct 13, 2008 @ 06:09pm EST
STOCKTON, LUZERNE COUNTY - Monday marks five full days that people have been living without water service in one part of lower Luzerne County. Over the weekend, people who live in the village of Stockton took the water woes into their own hands.

People who don't have water service say they can't cook, shower or do laundry.

"It's hard. It really is. It's hard flushing the toilets because you have to keep filling," Rose Dudeck said. Dudeck is a healthcare aide for an 81-year-old woman who's without water. She's got boiled water on the stove and bottles under the counter.

"It really makes you appreciate it. It really does. People don't realize what it's like to be without water," Dudeck said.

Homeowners spent the weekend replacing a 22-foot water line, which got a handful of homes back online, but not everyone.

"I cried today. I cried really bad today. I even tried to help the guys dig out yesterday. We're trying to do whatever we can," homeowner Maggie Gavitt said.

The water system that serves Stockton Six is private and the problem started when homeowners say a contractor put heavy equipment above their line. They pointed to broken pipes as proof.

"We didn't make this problem. If I have to dig with my hands, I will. It's that bad. It is, it really is," Gavitt said.

For now, there's no easy answer and no indication of when the water will return to everyone, especially Gavitt and her five kids.

"It's crazy. They're like, we want to take a shower. Kids are used to taking a bath everyday. I'm used to having the dishes done, having everything so-so. I'm really going out of my mind," Gavitt said.