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Tenants Left High and Dry in Archbald

ARCHBALD — On some of the hottest days of the year, more than 40 families in Lackawanna County are struggling without water. People living at the Valley V...

ARCHBALD -- On some of the hottest days of the year, more than 40 families in Lackawanna County are struggling without water.

People living at the Valley View Estates in Archbald say they've paid their rent, but the water has been shut off because the landlord is months behind on the water bill.

That landlord is not only months behind, but notices show the water bill is more than $50,000 overdue.

Pennsylvania American Water brought in a water tanker as temporary relief for the children or people with medical issues.

More than 40 families living in trailers at Valley View Estates have had no water since it was abruptly turned off Tuesday.

"I was in the middle of a shower, all soapy, and there goes the water turned off. I was still covered in soap," said Melissa Belles.

"I actually had to run from trailer to trailer, getting animals, kids, and older people water," said Travis Marshall.

Marshall says having no water is an emergency situation for many of the residents, like his own mother.

"My mom is actually in the hospital right now and she's supposed to be released on Friday. She has oxygen and she needs a humidifier or a bubulator on her oxygen tank. We can't even fill it."

"I feel bad for everybody in here," added resident John Ryan. "There's a lot of people, there's babies, I mean we need water."

The water company shut off service because the landlord hasn't paid the bill in months.

Pennsylvania American Water officials say they gave notices to people living there to warn them this would happen.

The water company even asked residents to pay part of the bill, and then deduct it from the rent. But people feared that would ultimately land them with water but without a place to live.

Another woman who lives at Valley View Estates is fearful the landlord would retaliate for her talking.

"I've been here 20-something years, and this has happened so many times, over and over. It's getting pathetic."

We spoke to the landlord who says he made a payment of $4,000 on the water bill Tuesday and is trying to pay another $6,000. He hopes that will get the water turned back on, but he owes more than $50,000.

 

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