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Imagine turning on your faucet and seeing brown, rusty water come out or no water at all. That's what people in Wedgewood Park, north of South Bend, say they've been dealing with for years.
Wedgewood Park's private water pumps were put in more than fifty years ago. Naturally they've deteriorated over the years, leading to numerous repairs. Then finally last week, both pumps went down for good, leaving the residents with no water.
The water is flowing fine right now, but every once in a while… "We have rusty water here or low pressure," said Ken Claycomb, who has lived in Wedgewood Park for about 20 years.
Last Wednesday, the community of Wedgewood Park, which is in far northern St. Joseph County near the Indiana-Michigan state line, had no water at all because a water pump went out and its backup pump failed. About 215 homeowners were without water for twelve hours that day.
"You can't even take a shower when you come home from work," said Claycomb.
Claycomb says he and his neighbors have dealt with water problems on and off for years.
"Lot of times it's rusty water, you wake up in the morning and you look at your toilet and the water's rusty everything coming out of the faucet you don't want to brush your teeth with it."
After the most recent water issue, the owner of Wedgewood Park Water Company, Dennis Jusko, put in a brand new pump. Jusko says it's a temporary solution. He's working out a deal to draw water from the well used by Niles Charter Township... A deal Claycomb and his neighbors hope goes through.
"At least we'd know we're getting good water," he said.
Jusco refused to go on camera or provide an official statement, but said over the phone that he does have approval from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to draw water from the Niles Charter Township well. The Township has also agreed to share its well water with Wedgewood.
Jusko hoped to start tapping the township's well water before Christmas, but he still needs approval from other Indiana State officials... So now he's thinking sometime in January.