Residents of an apartment complex in northeast Indianapolis are facing the harsh reality of living without water.
Two tenants residing in the Villages at Mill Crossing apartment complex have reported that they have been without working water for over a month.
People living in the complex are currently filling up jugs with water for bathing, drinking, and boiling purposes.
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Lisa Stewart, a resident, emphasized the importance of water by saying, “Functioning without water is extremely difficult and inhumane.” She further expressed her concern by stating, “It’s stressful for me as I have a two-month-old baby and one and two-year-old children who need to be bathed and fed.”
Upon moving in at the beginning of July, Lisa Stewart was one of the tenants who had to endure living without water. Despite never being warned of the water problems before moving in, she is still being expected to pay rent.
The Marion County health department paid a visit to Stewart’s unit and another one in early July. During the visit, the complex received two emergency no water violation notices.
According to the health department, the apartment complex failed to comply within the given 24 hours. The issues at the problematic apartment complex persist.
The health department has taken legal action against the property, with two court cases filed that are currently awaiting assigned dates. In response to the situation, they have issued a statement.
Curt Brantingham, from the Marion County Public Health Department, informed that there are currently two Emergency Notices of Violation pending for E. Mill Crossing Drive due to the lack of water supply.
If a property owner or manager receives an emergency NOV, they must take immediate action to correct the cited violation within 24 hours. Failure to do so will result in the case being filed for court.
According to Brantingham, the absence of water is usually considered an emergency scenario, and both parties failed to comply with the regulations within 24 hours of the emergency Notice of Violation (NOV) being issued.
In regards to the situation, the property manager shared the following statement with us:
As our valued residents may have noticed, we are currently addressing a low water pressure issue and are striving to resolve it promptly. We acknowledge the inconvenience this has caused and assure you that we are working diligently towards a solution. Originally, the low water pressure valve repair was set for July 16, 2024. However, upon turning off the water and commencing the repair work, our technician uncovered additional damage that was not initially expected.
Once the issue is resolved and the required parts are not available locally, the manager has assured that the company will issue the necessary credits. Unfortunately, the parts would take around four to six weeks to arrive, which could cause some delays.
In the meantime, we had a conversation with someone else regarding their living conditions in the past month.
Nia Taylor, who is currently assisting her girlfriend and five children, expressed how one never truly realizes the value of something until it’s no longer available. “We are currently facing the challenge of not having running water,” she explained. “Since the kids have just started school, we have been taking turns heating up pots of water on the stove so they can take baths.”
