After more than a month without water, people in Oquawka, Illinois are hoping they can get some help. Twelve occupied homes and three rentals are still waiting for water.
Becky Staebell has been without water since February 7, 2014. Yesterday, her neighbor hooked up a hose from their house to her house for water.
“So we've been able to use everything that we have here,” said Staebell.
Many homeowners in Oquawka, fed up with not having answers for when they might get water, reached out to Senator John Sullivan for help.
“Because of the depth of the frost and because of not knowing where the lines are frozen, it's created just a very difficult situation,” said Sullivan.
Friday afternoon, he met with homeowners, the Village Board and Mayor Sandra Moody Friday afternoon.
“If there is a need, if they think that there's a need, whether it's equipment to dig it up at some point in time or additional resources, we want to help out,” he said.
Mayor Moody says she has asked for extra hands and equipment.
“There's a couple that have been thawing on their own and we've been pouring in new lines under roads,” said Jeff Peterson, Street and Water Supervisor for Oquawka.
The major problem is with plastic lines. There’s no organized list for which house they will go to next. Some are suggestions from the Village Board.
Becky Staebell hopes they’ll get to her soon.
“I appreciate the hard work they do, but I just wish they'd get to our house,” said Staebell.
Her neighbor’s hose can only last so long.
Bottled water is available at the Village Hall and the Oquawka Fire Department. A shower is also available at the Oquawka Fire Department.