ELGIN, Ill. (CBS) — Imagine not having water for weeks. That’s what more than three dozen homeowners in Elgin are dealing with.
CBS 2′s Suzanne Le Mignot reports a fire hydrant is the main source of water for one Elgin apartment building.
A sign warns residents not to turn a laundry room faucet off to keep the water lines from freezing. Since the end of January, several underground water service lines have frozen in Elgin. 39 homes were temporarily without water.
“What we’re doing is hooking people to their neighbors, so that they can have water and we’re praying for some sunshine hitting the dark asphalt and hoping for the frost to abate,” said Kyla Jacobsen, Elgin Water Director.
Derek Webber lives in what’s now being called a donor home.
“I know how it is, I mean, back when I was in college I lived in an apartment that never had water in the winter,” said Webber.
A hose snakes all the way from Webber’s house to grateful neighbor, Lindsey Ritacco’s home.
“That’s been a huge load off of us,” said Ritacco.
Ritacco’s husband had been bringing water back from Arlington Heights.
“For two weeks he was bringing back 50, 60 gallons of water,” said Ritacco. “It’s been a lot to deal with, but thankfully we’ve made it through.”
None of the donor homes are being billed for water. The city has also created a database for all of the homes impacted, so next year, each homeowner will be reminded to run their water at a trickle to avoid a repeat of the winter of 2014.
