Faucets -- and residents' patience -- run dry

SanLuisObispo.com

March 22, 2008

Mike Shannon was taking a shower Wednesday morning in his trailer in the Rancho San Luis Mobile Home Park when the water stopped.

His dry faucet was caused by the first in a series of water line breaks that left the 102- unit seniors-only mobile-home park without water for two days--and the tempers of the residents short.

'The water mains have been going out one after the other,' said Shannon, who is president of the homeowners association at the park at South Higuera Street and Prado Road in San Luis Obispo.

'One of the breaks was right in front of my house. They had to tear my rose bushes out to fix it.'

Shannon estimates that there have been six breaks in the past two days, several of them resulting in geysers.

R. Baker Inc., an Arroyo Grande underground utility firm, has been hired to make the repairs.

Frustrated park manager JoAnn Johnson was making the rounds of the park in her golf cart Friday morning, trying to calm angry residents.

One man, who would not give his name, described the park as a disaster.

Johnson told residents the park should have low water pressure restored late Friday and the workers would be back Monday to finish the job.

'They're mad at me like this is my fault,' she said of the residents, then of the workers: 'They're working as fast as they can.'

Some of the residents, such as Shannon, use wheelchairs or are otherwise disabled. It's difficult or impossible for them to access the blue portable toilets scattered through the park or tote water from a spigot at the park entrance.

Friends of Shannon have been bringing him water to flush his toilets.

Shannon and Johnson agree the problem was caused by the age of the pipes. The plumbing was installed in 1969 and can't take the pressure anymore.

Johnson is hoping the low-pressure water service available over the weekend will be enough.

'We're doing the best we can,' she said. 'As long as everyone doesn't take a shower all at once, we should be OK.'

Reach David Sneed at 781-7930.

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