Antwerp’s water problems affect villagers

ANTWERP, N.Y. (WWNY) - Antwerp in Jefferson County has a water problem and it’s affecting village residents.

Tory Ryan owns the Go To Shop in Antwerp. Last night, she and other residents found their water pressure had dropped.

"I got a text message from a customer in the area asking if we had any water pressure. So, I came upstairs, I'm doing my paperwork, and checked it out and we didn't have any," she said.

The water problem caused Antwerp Primary School to close for the day.

Residents report pressure did increase around 9 Friday morning.

But, according to village Mayor Jonathan Cole, villagers are under a boil water advisory and are being asked to conserve water. That's because water levels in the village water tower are lower than usual.

The mayor says the culprit could be a leak in a water line.

"We think we have it isolated between the water tower and the Miller Road plant," said Cole.

Compounding the leak, fire crews used a lot of water to fight a house fire in the town of Antwerp Thursday night.

"Well, the water plant is right across the road. So, they've been refilling the trucks off of the water system," said Antwerp Fire Chief James Allen.

Cole says it's undetermined if firefighter activity caused the leak. But, he says fighting the fire made it hard to track the water levels.

"The fire caused an excessive use of the water systems. So, immediate tracking of it did not get noticed," said Cole.

Ryan says she understands if the village's current water problems are because of last night's fire.

"I wouldn't mind them taking my water to help somebody else out," she said.

Antwerp had problems with its water in 2014 and 2015. But, Cole says he doesn't believe the issues then are related to the problem now.

He says Department of Public Works crews will continue looking for the leak Saturday.

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