Frustrations building for people affected by Wayne water crisis

WAYNE, W.Va. (WSAZ) — The one-two punch of the do-not-consume water order in Wayne, followed by the winter storm, has led to students being out of school for close to two weeks.

The frustrations of living day-after-day without being able to use their water are building up.

“We’re just trying to keep it together,” Catrina Coleman said.

Coleman’s family lives on 5th Street in Wayne. They’ve only been using their water to flush the toilet. She said their tap water still smells like oil.

She has children in 11th and third grades who’ve been learning online and with take-home packets for close to half the new year.

“They’re going to have questions,” she said. “I don’t teach. It does make it hard.”

On top of everything else, Coleman’s family woke up Thursday to find their gas was out. They were among close to 2,000 Hope Gas customers impacted by a service disruption.

The Colemans did their best to keep warm with heated blankets and space heaters, but the stress is mounting.

“It’s been difficult hauling clothes out to wash them, going places to shower, trying to wash dishes, cook, prepare food, keep things clean,” Coleman said. “It’s been frustrating.”

Wayne Middle School sixth-grader Adelynn Johnson lives down the street.

“At school we learn with the teacher, ask questions, but online we just have to do it online and hope we get it right,” Johnson said.

Coleman is hoping more answers regarding the spill come to light.

“If it’s able to just be vandalized so easily and ruin an entire town’s water supply, why is that not under surveillance?” she said.

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