MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, Mich. — "I have a daughter that wakes up at five and has to get ready for work. She woke up at five this morning and she came to me within minutes and said 'Mom, why do I not have water to get ready for work?'" said Tina Weiner, a Muskegon Heights resident.
Weiner, like other residents, went to the Muskegon Heights City Hall Wednesday morning to get to the bottom of the problem.
Here, they learned that a computer system failure involving their water system caused water pressure to decrease and pumps to stop sending water across the city.
Melvin Burns, the city manager for Muskegon Heights, said the loss of pressure can cause potentially dangerous bacteria to enter the water supply, resulting in the boil water advisory.
"Right now, what we're doing is we're trying to re-pressurize this, so we're still able to treat water and everything, so we're trying to re-pressurize the system," said Burns.
The cities of Muskegon and Norton Shores opened up connecting lines between the cities to allow for their water to enter Muskegon Heights' system.
"Various parts of the process need a certain level of pressure in order to start up properly or to run properly," said Dan Vanderheide, Director of Public Works for the City of Muskegon. "So we're working with Muskegon Heights to develop that sort of minimum level of pressure at which they can begin to turn on some of the components of their system again."
"Any time you lose pressure, the system shuts down, you risk the chance of bacteria in the water system," said Burns. "For the next 48-72 hours, once we're pumping back water back into our system, we will have to test to make sure there's no bacteria."
As of Wednesday evening, water pressure was restored to Muskegon Heights.
At a park at Summit Ave and Waalkes St., various city and county officials, city council candidates and volunteers began bringing bottled water donations around 8 a.m., and have been keeping up distribution throughout the day.
"When it comes down to community, we're going to show up. We are truly the city of friendly people, and everybody is pitching in," said City Council Member Lashay Simmons, who began organizing volunteers after she was notified of the situation. "We've had our Chief of Police come out bringing water. When you see such love circulating around in this community, you can't do anything but have such a big heart filled."
According to Simmons and those at the distribution site, several thousands of gallons of water had been given out by the early afternoon.
Simmons also said arrangements can be made for those homebound to receive water.
"They can call (231) 903-7788 and that will come directly to me, and then I will have someone bring it to them," said Simmons.
Water distribution will continue at the Muskegon Heights Farmers Market until 8 p.m. Wednesday, and will continue until the boil water advisory is lifted.
Donors who provided water include:
- Access Health
- Meijer
- Public Health
- Muskegon Family Care
- McKenzie Price Insurance Agency
- Corine’s Cakes and Catering
- Lombardo’s Sicilian Pizza
- Black Wallstreet Muskegon
- City of Muskegon
- Bethlehem Neighborhood Association
- Private Citizen Donations
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