Water Service Will Be Cut On And Off Again This Week On Myrtle Avenue

The unreliable water service that began in earnest last week along Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Emerson Streets continues this week, with service cut today (September 14) from 8-5pm and confirmed to be cut this coming Wednesday, September 16.

Water may also be halted Thursday, September 17, although the city Department of Design and Construction has not confirmed the news — their policy being to confirm service changes 24 hours in advance.

This uncertainty is galling local businessowners and hurting their business, as DNAInfo reported.

“It’s been a frustrating ordeal the last few weeks as no one seems to know what is going on,” said Alain Farrelly, one of three brothers who own Brewklyn Grind Coffee Roasters at 557 Myrtle Ave. Farrelly estimates the shop has already lost about $7,500 in business during the shutdowns Aug. 22 and Sept. 9 and 10 — and said he couldn’t receive confirmation if he would have water on Monday until 8 a.m. that morning because the DDC doesn’t work weekends.

“I don’t know how they expect people to operate like this. Everything we use is fresh and perishable — pastries, milk, etc. We need to give suppliers at least 24-hours notice, and when we don’t, they deliver, and we have to pay for that,” [Alain] Farrelly said.

. . . “We’re losing a whole lot of business,” said Shic salon owner, Keisha Farrell, 38. “I can’t even tell you [a number,] but it’s a lot.” . . . “They should have factored [compensation for business losses] into the budget,” she said. “[DDC] can have 10 businesses closed so they can get their work done, but we don’t get our work done. At the end of the day, the landlords still want their money.”

The spotty service part of the ongoing construction on the plaza project that is part of the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project (MARP).

DCC Community Construction Liaison Christopher Fields told DNAInfo that while he understands the concerns, “it’s a water shut-down. Not everyone is going to be happy all the time. . . Some businesses are open during the day, others at night. It’s a tough situation. We’re working with everyone as best as we can, but we can’t appease everyone.”

How is the water shutdown affecting you?