Residents of Winfield Township mobile home park unable to use water since October
Whether its drinking, showering or bathing her 1-year old, Kellie Walker said she has not been able to use the water in her mobile home in nearly a month.
In October, Walker said she and the rest of the residents of Bernie’s Mobile Home Park received an email from the property manager with Stackhouse Management, informing them to avoid drinking or even boiling their water due to high levels of manganese.
As of Friday, Nov. 14 — nearly a month since the email — the water remains unsafe to drink.
“I’m lucky that my dad lives pretty close, so I just take water bottles and fill them up,” she explained.
A fact sheet by the Water Quality Association notes high manganese content is associated with metallic-tasting water and black stains on tubs, toilets, fixtures and clothes. It also warns of possible health concerns due to exposure.
“The likelihood of health impacts from manganese are dependent on factors such as the route of exposure, the chemical form, the age at exposure and an individual’s nutritional status,” the fact sheet said. “Certain groups that are more sensitive to manganese include infants, the elderly and those with liver disease.”
Walker said she believes the water originates from three well sites on the property. She said that she has numerous stains from the contaminants and neighbors told her stories about their hair staining.
“I reached out to the property manager last week and they said it would be seven to 10 days until they did a test,” Walker said on Thursday, Nov. 13. “I just talked to the regional manager and they said it would be done tomorrow or Friday.”
She said even after the test is complete, it was not clear whether the water would be drinkable immediately or if a longer wait would follow.
Walker added that while she is concerned for herself and her family, that concern extends to residents of the park as a whole. She said she worries about two of her neighbors who are wheelchair bound.
“I don’t even know how they’re supposed to get through this,” Walker said.
She said she became even more frustrated after she recently received a notice from management that her home was dirty.
“I can’t even take a shower or wash my hands, but I’m being told to pressure wash my house,” Walker said. “Should I wash my house with orange water?”
She said earlier this year residents were advised by Stackhouse to boil their water. Now, the issue has occurred twice within a single year.
“Why do I even pay for water and my mortgage?” Walker said.
Residents have received bottled water from management in the meantime. The property manager declined to comment Friday afternoon.
