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Logan Boil Order Partially Lifted, Water Restriction Remains
By: Aaron PayneBy: WOUB Staff reports
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LOGAN, OH – Days after a Logan City Water main break left many without drinkable water, some have been given the go ahead to use without boiling.
Several Hocking County agencies sent out notices over social media at approximately 3 p.m. Monday informing the public that the boil water advisory had been lifted for Logan residents only, but remained for the Enterprise and Rockbridge communities.
The water ban for outside use was also still in effect for “washing cars, watering lawns or anything of that nature that would deplete the water reservoir.”
“On the east side of town we have three tanks that are filling as we speak,” David Ogg, Hocking County EMA director said.
Ogg learned about the vehicle accident which led to the break while out of town and came back to deal with the “hectic” situation. However, he says he was pleased with the response from emergency officials and city officials, as well as the public’s understanding.
“When you say you can’t have water to drink out of the system like people are used to, then they want answers and we provided them as quickly as we could. Communication has been well and I think it’s ran fairly smoothly.”
Before the boil water advisory was announced to be partially lifted, those affected were found collecting free water at two distribution sites. Bottles provided by Save-A-Lot were handed out at the store’s Hocking Drive location, while bottles donated by Wal-Mart were handed out by Ogg and other county employees at the Hocking County Fairgrounds’ Arts and Crafts Building.
Among those helping put cases of water into cars lined up around the latter location was South Logan resident and county employee Brian Wyskiver, who described having to boil water at his family’s home as a “slight inconvenience.”
After learning of the advisory, Wyskiver and his wife went into action to make sure they and their family had water to use.
“We got some bottled water from Wal-Mart,” he said. “Basically, just boiled the water, made sure we didn’t give any water to the dogs from the spigot, we didn’t want them to get sick or anything, and made sure the grandkids had water.”
As for the remaining Logan City Water customers, there appeared to be plenty of donated water to go around, with Ogg putting the estimate of 1,500 cases handed out on Sunday at the fairground and a steady stream of cars coming through from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.
While the first portion of the boil water advisory was lifted, Ogg asked for the public’s continued understanding on behalf of every agency working to return things to normal.
“Thanks to all the public for being patient,” he said. “A special thanks to Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot, local businesses that have loaned tow motors and tools and helped passed things out and people that just came and helped.”
Updates on the advisories and outside use ban can be found on social medial site for various Hocking County agencies, including the Sheriff’s Office and the EMA.