KVUE
Author: Daranesha Herron (KVUE)
Published: 12:18 AM CDT November 1, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas — Some people in the Saddlebrook community in San Marcos are under a boil water notice due to a line break, but many neighbors are just happy to have running water again after almost two days without it.

"I mean, two days with no showers," said neighbor one. "You get pretty stinky."

Neighbors didn't want to show their faces or give their names because they have a fear of retaliation.

"No water, nothing working," said another neighbor. "You got a little slow drip out the drains and we kind of just had to work with that to get our toilets and stuff going, and then had to go to family member's houses to shower." 

The water supplier for that area, Maxwell WSC, said the water main that broke is owned by Sun Communities, which owns Saddlebrook. So Maxwell couldn't help with repairs. Neighbors said this is the longest they've gone without water, but it's not the first time.

"We've been here, what, about 11 years, 12 years almost and I've lost count after about 20," said a Saddlebrook resident. "So there's been a lot."

Maxwell's spokesperson said they plan to make sure Sun Communities is holding up its end of the bargain by maintaining equipment in the neighborhood.

In the meantime, they hope to get water samples back soon to lift the boil water notice.

"There have been issues with the pipes prior where we've had to have no water for, you know, a sort of short amount of time," said a neighbor. "It's such an inconvenience when you got kids and things you got to do and we can't because this is something that happens often."