Medical Lake complex without water for a week

MEDICAL LAKE – The tenants of a local apartment complex have been without water for a week.

According to Silver Lake Apartments resident Lindsey Kelly, a lack of water during the recent winter whether is making things difficult.

Kelly said the owner has had multiple companies coming out to address the issue, but it has not been fixed by any involved parties, so far.

And none of the assessments have led to an estimate on when the issue would be fixed at the 910 E. Campbell St. complex.

The complex manager said repairs were expected to be finished by the end of Tuesday, Dec. 21. But the property owner has not returned phone calls seeking comment.

Kelly said she has had to “figure out” how to bathe her child, and the cold weather makes it extremely difficult to make lifestyle adjustments based on the lack of a basic necessity.

When she addressed her issues with the owner, she said he wished her good luck.

“Hopefully, you have renters insurance, and good luck,” she recalled him saying.

The frustrated tenant said bathrooms are unusable without running water, and the complex provided two portable toilets to share between more than 30 people.

On Dec. 20, volunteers from Spokane Quaranteam partnered with residents including as Jesse Gonzalez and helped by donating four pallets of bottled water to help.

Some residents have had to spend money on renting motel rooms, but that can be expensive and “tenants shouldn’t have to pay for motels when paying hundreds of dollars in rent every month,” Kelly said.

During the Dec. 21 City Council meeting, officials acknowledged the problem.

Doug Ross said the sewer issue at the complex was fixed this afternoon, and Ross and another worker went and replaced a gasket in the complex’s water system.

Reporter Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected].