JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee — Residents of a downtown Johnson City apartment complex said they were without water for more than three days. Some said the building owner should be held responsible, others said he did his best.
Amara Carberry is one of the residents of the Watauga Square Apartments who has been without running water since Friday afternoon. On Monday, workers dug in the parking lot to get to a pipe.
“It’s hard when you’re used to it. It’s hard. I haven’t cried yet. I’ve been nice and calm,” Carberry said.
Most residents did not want to speak on camera, saying they feared retaliation.
Stephanie Sherwood’s aunt lives there.
“This company must be held accountable because if it takes over the accommodation of vulnerable people in this way, it has a responsibility,” Sherwood said.
Sherwood said the water had been turned off for hours before notes were slipped under residents’ doors. She said some bottled water was provided, but not enough, leaving residents to fight for their share.
She believes the company should have provided hotel rooms since the water was turned off for so long.
Tennessee state law allows tenants to withhold rent to pay for a hotel room if utilities aren’t covered, but because these are low-income apartments, that’s not an option for many.
“Most of us are not wealthy here by any means,” Carberry said, “so we really don’t have any extra money to just rent a hotel.”
Carberry is among other residents who say managers have done their best.
“The management was very considerate in giving us water,” said Don Slaughter. “They brought us many, many bottles, large and small water bottles.”
It is a situation for which a solution cannot come quickly enough.
“It would be nice to be able to take a shower, but there are dishes in my sink that I can’t wash,” he said.
Millennia, the Ohio-based owner of the apartments, issued a statement to News 5 late Monday:
“The Watauga Square management team is committed to providing safe, adequate and sanitary accommodations. On Friday afternoon, a water pipe break was discovered in the parking lot. After an inspection by the City, the management team was advised to shut off all water to the property and shut off the parking lot. Immediately following the inspection, an outside sanitation contractor was engaged, necessary parts were ordered, and repairs were made immediately where possible. While repairs are expected to be completed in the next 24 hours, the City has installed a temporary faucet to ensure water supply.
“Given the impact to residents, the management team has been conducting home visits throughout the weekend and continuing today, providing residents with jugs and bottles of water. Additionally, the Johnson City Fire Department will be delivering two pallets of water for residents later in the day. The management team is working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, will continue to keep residents updated on repair progress, and apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
