“We can do better than this,” Harlan County residents express frustrations

HARLAN CO., Ky. (WYMT) — Folks in Harlan County continue to experience water issues.

On Wednesday, April 30, several families told WYMT they have been out of water for several days.

A water distribution event was hosted at the Wallins Fire Department. Families could receive two jugs of water per person.

People waited in line in their cars for more than an hour for water.

“There is people that can’t flush their commodes,” Jack Ball, a Harlan resident said. “And having human waste in their house that they can’t get rid of is very unsanitary and just a recipe for a major health concern.”

People said it is affecting their daily lives at home and it is becoming frustrating.

“Especially with a little one and everything it is just really aggravating,” Marie Moore said, a Harlan County resident. “And like I mentioned before it is kinda awful when you have to beg for your water when you pay for your water and there has been money that’s been given out, and it is like where is this money going?”

People are hoping for water to be restored soon, as it is affecting home lives and students in the classrooms.

“Schools have been cancelled and that is a week of instruction that is lost for these students,” Ball said, “and I don’t think it is right myself to have to make that time up because it is not their fault that the school is closed.. We can do better than this. This is 2025 and we can do better.”

Officials said they do not have a timeline for when water would be restored.

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