WAVERLY, Ohio – Just as Waverly residents were beginning to recover from a prolonged water emergency, a new challenge has emerged. The Village of Waverly has issued a new village wide boil advisory due to high water usage overwhelming the local treatment facility, leading to a significant loss of water pressure. The alert went out in a “One Call” message from the Mayor’s Office.
According to Ohio EPA guidelines, any time water pressure drops to a certain level, a boil advisory must be enacted to ensure public safety. Village officials are urging residents to boil all water for at least one minute before consuming it or using it for cooking. The advisory will remain in effect until water testing confirms that it is safe for normal use.
This latest development follows a difficult week for Pike County residents, who had been under a strict Do Not Use Order that was only lifted at 7:30 a.m. on January 28. That order had prohibited all water usage, except in critical facilities like hospitals and nursing homes, due to severe leaks in the water system.
The crisis reached a breaking point, prompting around-the-clock work from crews attempting to repair damaged supply lines and restore water levels in storage tanks. Freezing temperatures complicated these efforts, making repairs slow and difficult.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) issued an update Monday, stating that while a major leak had been repaired, officials were still working to identify and fix another. The agency urged residents to minimize their water usage to help ensure that essential services, including hospitals and nursing homes, could maintain a stable water supply.
Judge Questions Transparency in Crisis Response
The situation has sparked frustration among local officials and residents, with Pike County Common Pleas Court Judge Rob Junk publicly questioning the handling of the crisis. In a Facebook post, Judge Junk expressed concerns over the lack of information regarding the source of the leaks and what had been done to fix them.
“I’m just curious. Where exactly were the leaks in Waverly’s water system that put the entire Village under a ‘Do Not Use’ alert? This affected not only my office but more importantly, every single resident and business in town, including causing the closure of Waverly City Schools,” Junk wrote. “Did anyone see any work crews digging up lines around the Village? Every resident and business in Waverly needs to know EXACTLY what happened with the water we all depend on and pay for.”
As residents continue to grapple with the aftereffects of the crisis, officials are urging patience and caution while the water system stabilizes. The boil advisory will remain in place until further testing ensures the water is safe to consume.