About 1,000 people in Martin County were without water Friday afternoon, five days after the Martin County Water District began shutting off water to many of its customers at night.
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Kathy Jude, who lives in Martin County, told the Herald-Leader that it has been difficult to care for her husband’s grandfather, who has been without running water since Monday.
A video posted Wednesday by The Mountain Citizen newspaper appeared to show a police officer arresting Gary Michael Hunt of Martin County in Martin County Fiscal Court during an emergency meeting about the water crisis.
“All I want is for the people of Martin County to have water,” Hunt told the Herald-Leader.
Martin County 911 Director Eric Jude said the county will tell people through its Facebook page and a Code Red alert system where and when drinking water will be distributed.
The district has a long history of problems related to water pressure and water quality, and it’s the subject of a Public Service Commission investigation.
Danielle Fletcher, 31, of Martin County, said the water hasn’t been safe to drink for years.
“You turn it on, and it smells like bleach.” The district made a long Facebook post Friday about its troubles, citing a lack of funding for its shortcomings.
Reporter Bill Estep contributed to this story.