City of Konawa struggling with water worries

KONAWA, Okla. (KFOR) — Families are facing water worries in Konawa. Instead of getting clear water, it comes out brown.

Carlee Coffin was born and raised in Konawa. She is one of many residents who have been dealing with water problems for as long as she can remember.

"It's really just frustration," said Coffin. "I know when it's clear, sometimes it smells like bleach and it has bleached towels before, and then when it's not clear, it's brown, or we don't have any at all," said Coffin.

The City of Konawa posted on Facebook two days ago that was a water leak in town, but Coffin said the issue goes deeper than that.

"It's just old, old structure," said Coffin. "To completely redo it, we don't have the money to do it. So I don't know what it's going to take to get the money to do it."

The new mom said the water gets so bad ,it's hard for her to wash her family's clothes.

"I think it's really just frustration, especially with washing my clothes, my baby's clothes," said Coffin. "I'm just really scared, washing bottles and then bathing her in it."

Coffin also said she has to buy big water jugs just to drink.

"My dog, we have a pit bull and he drinks the water, obviously. And he was drinking city water and actually was throwing up, like more than a dog should be throwing up," said Coffin. "I'm scared that even though it's clear, you know with the bleach content, how high that is in there."

Coffin, along with many residents in Konawa said it's a marathon not a sprint.

"It's just frustration. It's not with the city, it's just we don't know what our next step needs to be," said Coffin.

The Konawa City Manager sent News 4 the following statement: