‘We had to go out of town to shower.’ Water restored for some at Fresno apartments

Tenants at a northeast Fresno apartment complex are hoping to return to their normal routine after going nearly a week without water.

A water main line ruptured at The Springs apartments on Nov. 20 near a swimming pool, putting a strain on the Thanksgiving holiday for about 90 people, according to tenant Danielle Manelis.

Manelis, who lives at the back end of the complex, said water at her apartment unit was shut off Tuesday after the rupture had been fixed — but then caused another section of the pipe to burst a short time later. Consequently, there had been outcry from tenants over the issue.

Manelis and some other tenants got good news Saturday that water had been restored. The night before, she had slept at a hotel that was booked until Saturday. She planned to pick up her belongings and get back to cleaning her home, now that water was once again flowing in.

She lives with a son, daughter and baby twins. “Heck, we even had to go out of town to shower,” Manelis said. “We haven’t had a water issue in a while, but prior to this it was quite frequent that we were out of water.’

In the past, Manelis said, the water line ruptures were said to be caused by tree roots.

The Springs’ management office posted a notice on apartment doors Saturday, offering apologies for the inconveniences caused by the lack of water.

The letter also stated water had been restored to about half of the units that had been without it, and that plumbers were working to locate and repair any other pipe issues.

“Please know that we are trying to get these issues taken care of as quickly as humanly possible,” the letter read.

A leasing agent on Saturday declined to comment further on the issues and a call to the regional manager went unanswered.

Manelis said the management office was allowing tenants to submit hotel and water receipts in order to be eligible for a rent deduction.

She said that the leasing agent offered a vacant unit with water, so tenants who stayed behind could use the shower.