Brookville community raises concern after receiving water termination notice

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – Residents of Colonial Crestwood in Brookville are expressing concern after they received a letter notifying them that their water would be turned off this week. 

Residents of Crestwood Homes received a letter from the Brookville Municipal Authority (BMA) on January 16, notifying them that their water would be shut off on January, 18. In the letter, it detailed that the reason was high water usage due to leaks from the water system.

The BMA noted that the homes were using 650,000 gallons of water a month and the only way water would be turned back on is if repairs are done. The municipal authority also urged residents to call the landlord and demand repairs be done immediately. The letter immediately sent many residents into a panic. 

You can read the full letter below:

“Started panicking because you’re going to be without water. What are you going to do? You can’t go without water, you have to be able to shower, wash your clothes, and cook, you can’t go without it,” Resident Rita Friebohle said. 

Resident David Rotsch immediately began making calls to see what he could do to avoid having his system shut off. 

“Shock and horror. I mean, my 81-year-old mother lives with me. I know there are a lot of other elderly people that live here. Nobody wants to move in the middle of winter. You can’t live without water,” Rotsch said. 

On Wednesday, January, 17 the borough sent a press release to tenants and WTAJ notifying them that water will not be turned off as repairs are scheduled to be done. In the release it was noted that Colonial Crestwood used 650,000 gallons of water in the past month, and continued high usage could put the rest of the Brookville Municipal Authority water service area at risk of shortages. It takes the BMA one day to produce 650,000 gallons of water.

Brookville Municipal Authority has been in touch with the contractor contacted by Colonial Crestwood and has confirmed that the necessary repairs will be made. Water services for Colonial Crestwood Trailer Park will not be terminated on Thursday, January 18, 2024 however there is still the potential that water services may be interrupted temporarily while repairs are being made.

Tenants have expressed that this is not the first time they’ve had issues with the landlord. Residents say they’ve had problems with garbage service. They also believe there are legal issues and payments are not being made. 

“We paid him he never paid the borough, he took that money and I don’t know what he did with it,” Resident Ronald Lucas said.  

Lucas also says that he and other residents are looking to take legal action against the landlord. However, the Brookville Borough says that payments are not an issue.

“Brookville Municipal Authority would like to clarify that the threat of water termination on January 18, 2024, had NOTHING to do with payments or the lack thereof. Brookville Municipal Authority must look out for the well-being of all their water service customers, and ensure services can be provided. During extreme high usage and waterline breaks, the Authority has the right to terminate services without any advance notice.”

The Brookville Borough stated in a release

You can read the full Brookville Borough release below:

 With past and current problems, residents are unsure of what is going to happen next. 

“I got a little bit of relief, but I still don’t know. I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen,” Friebohle said. 

Brookville Municipal Authority will continue to closely monitor the water loss at Colonial Crestwood trailer park until the appropriate repairs can be made early next week and remain in contact with the contractor.