Palmer Gardens residents without water for over 24 hours due to private main break

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) — Residents at Palmer Gardens apartment complex were without water for more than 24 hours, leaving dozens of families unable to cook, shower or use bathrooms.

The outage was caused by a private water main break on the property, creating what one city leader called a “humanity issue.”

In an update, a resident told 13 Action News that the water was turned back on Tuesday evening.

Prior to the fix, residents sent videos showing sinks that did not run and toilets that did not flush. One resident who didn’t want to show her face said the water was turned off Monday morning.

“We didn’t have no water. The toilets aren’t working. It’s been like that since yesterday morning,” she said.

City says private line responsibility of property owner

The resident said she noticed crews on the property digging a hole when the water stopped working. According to a city spokesperson, the problem stems from a water main break on a private line located on the property.

Because the line is privately owned, the city doesn’t automatically fix private lines.

One resident said her children are embarrassed to go to school because they can’t shower.

“We usually get like letters on our door or something like that no, not that no emails no nothing. No phone calls. We don’t have no maintenance emergency numbers or nothing,” she said.

Notice promises water restoration

The leasing office was empty when 13 Action News visited. A yellow notice on the door says water should return tomorrow afternoon and apologizes for the inconvenience, though it’s not clear when the note was posted.

City Councilman Sam Melden said this goes beyond inconvenience. He contacted city administrators to see what assistance may be available, even though the break is on private property.

“My top priority is making sure that the water service is restored regardless of the property managers you know issues or whatever other issues are going on with the building,” Melden said.

Residents report absent management

Adding to tenants’ frustration, they said they haven’t seen a maintenance worker or manager in weeks.

“They haven’t been in the office for over 30 days. It’s been 30 days. Nobody, no maintenance men nobody. No numbers for us to call,” one resident said.

Palmer Gardens Two Limited Partnership owns the apartments. The Michigan-based company has not returned calls.

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