Prospect Road is a Westport gem.
With its stately homes, old growth trees, and the gardens and greenery of John and Melissa Ceriale, no one would confuse the Greens Farms neighborhood with the Third World.
But when the Ceriales turned on the tap a few days ago, after a summer away, the water was brown.
Half an hour later, it had not cleared.
They were not alone. Turns out their neighbors had brown water since July 4th.
Their toilets and laundry were stained. They could not shower. They spent a lot of money on bottled water.
Discolored water on Prospect Road.
Neighbors alled Aquarion — repeatedly. The water company’s responses included:
- “Check your water tank.”
- “Just run your faucets. This happens to my vacation home in Rhode Island as well.”
- “Is there construction in your area?”
- “The fire department may be testing.”
- “Do you live near a golf course?”
Workers flushed the hydrants and lines three times. Each time they said they tested the water; it was all good.
Wesptort Deputy Fire Chief Michael Kronick was very helpful, trying to reach Aquarion engineers.
Finally, one of the Ceriales’ neighbors found personal contact information for Aquarion’s CEO and vice president of operations. She called and emailed.
That seemed to get some response. The other day, workers reappeared.
“That’s just not right,” the neighbor said — referring both to Aquarion’s lack of urgency and solutions all summer, and the need to involve the C-Suite.
Fortunately, Melissa notes, the flowers and plants in her gorgeous garden don’t mind brown water.
But the rest of Prospect Road does.