SCRANTON -- There is still no word when water service will be restored to thousands of people after a water main break earlier this week.
The latest numbers from Pennsylvania American Water company show around 6,500 homes and businesses are still without water and officials aren't yet sure when the taps will be flowing again because crews are still working on the problem.
Initially, nearly 8,000 homes and businesses could have been impacted, including low pressure and cloudy water including places on Montage Mountain.
Crews managed to keep water flowing on Montage Mountain, Glenmaura and Keyser Avenue. So the number affected is 6,500 because Pennsylvania American Water was able to reroute the water through other pipes to those other communities.
All of these water woes started Wednesday morning when the pipe first broke.
Newswatch 16 got a closer look Friday morning at the 36 inch water line that crews from Pennsylvania American Water are working to repair. Workers say it took a long time to dig out the area around the broken pipe and then more time to pump out all of the water around it.
At last check water company officials say around 6,500 homes and businesses in south Scranton and Moosic are dealing with dry taps. That includes Oakwood Terrace in Moosic which almost ran out of water around 6 a.m. Friday for their 58 residents who are living with Alzheimer's and dementia.
“We hoped for the best and planned for the worst,” said Oakwood Terrace administrator Janine Starinsky.
Starinsky and others were running out of options until friends who work for a fracking company came to their rescue this morning. Somerset regional Water Resources rolled in with a 5,500 gallon tanker so the personal care home would be able to use the sinks and toilets. Fresh drinker water was also delivered.
“These people are truly our guardian angles. We are forever grateful for their kindness and generosity,” said Starinsky
Pennsylvania American has made available water tankers at five spots in Lackawanna County for folks who need water. You need to bring your own containers.
People who are home-bound can call Scranton Fire Department at 570-963-1216 or Pennsylvania Ambulance at 570-558-1212.