When will the water return? Snowshoe residents out of water for 2 weeks during a not so smooth transition between two private companies

WASILLA— Snowshoe residents have gone 2 weeks without running water because a pipe burst, rendering the water lines useless. The exchange of the well between two private companies has left most of the residents confused and angry- still without water.

“We’re angry, we’re upset and we just want our water back,” said Snowshoe resident, Tiana Thomas

Since the water line is privately owned, the state is unable to physically do anything about the problem but two engineers from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and District 12 representative, Cathy Tilton spoke at a public meeting with about 40 residents to address their concerns.

Both Garyn Johnson, co-owner of Snowshoe Water and current well manager or Garrett (who did not want to give out his last name), the business manager for Home Water LLC were absent from the meeting, striking a chord with Annette Mullen, one of the front runners of Snowshoe residents trying to get straight answers.

“Their absence speaks volumes,” Mullen said. “I have no faith in either of them.”

Mullen said that her home and about 100 families have been affected. Mullen and other residents shared how the past two weeks have been. Many homes get barely a drip when the water is on and the system is often shut off completely.

“A lot of people have been affected by this,” Mullen said.

For the past two weeks, Mullen and other Snowshoe residents have been getting boil-water order. Boil-water orders are a public health advisory letting residents know that a community’s drinking water has been compromised and may be contaminated with pathogens. During this time, any water that Snowshoe resident do acquire through the leaking well is advised to be boiled before consumption.

Many residents have to skip showers or find somewhere else to bathe. A lot of people are also stocking up on water bottles, gallon jugs and some even have acquired big water drums.

Another Snowshoe resident, Dawna said that she that suffers from auto immune deficiencies and was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) so even if she wanted to chase the drips from her shower head, she is worried she will contract something, compromising her health.

The words E.coli and arsenic were thrown around a lot by resident during the meeting, expressing concern about contamination and continued use after the repairs.

“None of us are drinking water from a tap,” Dawna said.

Jacob Dilley, an engineer for DEC explained that in these sort of scenarios, once the repairs are made, there will be a number of test to panel for arsenic, E.coli and many other pathogens.

“I’m sensing this is an emergency situation,” Dilley said to the room.

The line broke on the side of the road off Fairview loop, on a trail between fire station 6-6 and South Snowshoe Parkway. The water is steadily flowing from the ground, like a spring. The water is still spilling out, making miniature ponds on the trail. The area has been marked with red surveyor tape, visible from the road.

DEC engineer, Amy Hill said that she looked at a letter of intent to purchase from Home Water LLC and the “transaction hasn’t gone through yet.”

“Things are somewhat in limbo,” Hill said.

Tilton, Dilley and Hills all stated that the line would be repaired on Thursday, June 14. They also noted that repairs could take longer than expected and could be pushed into Friday or even longer.

“The hope is that it gets repaired tomorrow but it could take longer. It’s difficult because it’s in a transaction stage,” Tilton said.

Tilton said she was not an expert on the subject but she was there to help her constituents, relating what’s she’s been told.

“The goal is to get people back in their homes with water,” Tilton said.

The DEC engineers stated that although they can’t technically do anything about the well, they have contacted the necessary parties and asked them to give the residents proper notice of the boil-water orders.

The exchange from Snowshoe Water to Home Water LLC is apparently in progress but Garrett denies any ownership, causing mass confusion and frustration amongst the Snowshoe residents like Mullen who keep asking, “who’s going to fix it then?”

Although everyone at the meeting was told someone would repair the water line, it hasn’t been revealed who that someone is. Since Home Water LLC was supposed to be purchasing the water line. Tilton said that Home Water LLC would take care of the repairs with their “earnest money” but she admitted that she hasn’t physically seen that document.

“Home Water system has an earnest money agreement with Snowshoe Water, which is Garyn Johnson and her husband,” Tilton said.

Earnest money is a deposit made to a seller indicating the buyer's good faith in an arrangement. Tilton explained that an agreement like that would allow Home Water LLC to make the repairs prior to the actual purchase of the water system. Tilton presumed the two private companies were still negotiating.

During a phone interview, Garrett stated that Home Water LLC was a family company owned by his father. He said that he did not actually purchase the system and he was still “considering the ways to help” the Snowshoe residents.

“One of options would be to purchase the system,” Garrett said. “We want to help.”

Garrett said that he would like to purchase the system but he wanted to see if it would be “practical.”

“Will it be a win-win for everybody?” Garrett said.

He also stated that there would be repairs on the 14th but he didn’t know who was actually doing it. He said that it was up to the owner and he was only “brought to light” about the situation a few days ago.

“There’s a heightened sense of emergency and emotion because there’s a water leak out there,” Garrett said. “It can be fixed and it will be fixed.”

“So it gets a little awkward because the repairs are being made during a transition before it actually transitions,” Tilton said.

Many Snowshoe residents made comments and several of them could be heard groaning and sighing at intervals. One member of the crowd said that “things happen” and she gets it but said she didn’t feel like she was “getting a straight answer.”

“This isn’t a witch hunt... who is going to keep them accountable?” she said.

Mullen was very stern with her tone and demeanor throughout the meeting. She was clearly upset and didn’t hold it back, saying that the two absent parties lacked the “stones” to attend.

Thomas said she was aware of the obvious tension in the room. She admitted that she didn’t recognize a lot of people in the room but she was glad to see her community come together, remembering her close circle of neighbors in Snowshoe.

“We take care of each other,” Thomas said.

Snowshoe is one of many subdivisions within the Fairview Loop area. According to Mullen, other subdivisions besides Snowshoe have also been affected. Regardless if the water system is primarily for Snowshoe or beyond, the focus was clearly on Snowshoe.

Home Water LLC created a tab on their website called “Snowshoe.” The page contains one notice: “June 13, 2018: Water will be shut off this evening at 11pm. Repairs will begin tomorrow morning, June 14, 2018. We anticipate repairs to be finished by the end of day. We will post updates as more information becomes available.”

There is a customer comment submission form as well and it states: “If you are a current Snowshoe Water System customer, please fill out the form below to provide us with your contact information. If you have questions, we will email you with a response. This information will help in our efforts for a smooth transition to Home Water LLC.”

Johnson released the following statement: “Snowshoe Water had a Break in our Main Line along Fairview Loop Road May 31,2018. We have worked nonstop with all involved State, Federal departments and the water community to resolve this unique situation quickly and correctly. Boil Water Notice was issued by DEC as a precautionary measure because of the drop in pressure. Snowshoe Water is Not Positive for E Coli. Arsenic is at Federal Max Acceptable Limit (fixing the leak will lower it). For more details contact DEC directly.

Snowshoe Water will shut off 11pm Wednesday evening and remain off as repair commence Thursday morning. Please store enough water for a few days. Boil Water Notice is still in effect until testing is reviewed by DEC. Expect intermittent shut offs Thursday and Friday for testing. Home Waters LLC has take over operations for this water system. Updates will be posted at 907-357-7050.”

As the confusion ensues and the promises of a fixed line echo from many mouths, water continues to bubble out of the ground, flowing ceaselessly into a growing, man-made marsh.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” Mullen said. “What are they doing with our money if they aren’t managing it?”