Dear Editor,

Several neighborhoods in the Colerain and surrounding areas have been without water since Monday of this week.

There are many section of the Belmont County Water System that have been problematic for many years, yet continued to be neglected, overlooked and not corrected. Many residence have reached out to the county commissioners, EPA, and the Attorney General with no avail. Promises of a solution to the problem have been uttered for decades, but nothing has been done for this known issue, except rate increases.

Local neighbors, have had to bring water in for hygiene purposes, visit friends and relatives to bathe and wash clothes. I feel terrible for the families with little ones, not to mention the excessive heat. It seems like there is always some sort of excuse, or waiting for some sort of funding, basically empty promises. In the Calander year of 2024, this particular area had over 30 water interruptions, some several days long. Genuinely unacceptable. Because of the poor service, personally I have had to replace several appliances because of insufficient water pressure, air and debris traveling through the water lines. Not to mention the loss of income, because a tenant moving out because of the problematic water delivery. Yet they are building more plant to bring in more water customers, but not addressing the known issues.

However, there is another source/option in this particular section of the county, which is Martins Ferry Water, however, city officials seem to be disconnected from the matter for those who are willing to transfer service, it quite frustrating to say the least. Sometimes it makes you feel as if we are living in a third world country.

James Leos

Bridgeport