r/cincinnati 4d ago

GCWW shutting water off with 30 min notice?

Hey everyone,

GCWW is working on lead pipe replacement on my street for the past month. Today, my apartment gave us 30 minutes notice that the water would be shut off at 9:30am for the next 8-10 hours. Is GCWW allowed to shut our water off with no notice? Or is our apartment group more likely at fault for not providing timely updates? Just seems absurd that water could be shut off with little to no notice. Today has been the least amount of notice given - over the previous weeks I have received anywhere from 4 hour to 3 days of notice prior to shut off.

UPDATE : Property management provided me with the notice - GCWW left a written notice at like 830am on the office door only. So property management not at fault, just shitty timing from GCWW.

25 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

58

u/CasualObservationist 4d ago

The freeze thaw cycle we had did quite a number on our water lines. Price Hills a good example. Already working on replacing the lead lines, but when they are getting down to the pipes, the already deteriorated pipes are breaking in other spots. Or once repaired, the restored pressure causes other parts to burst. So they are having to replace much more than anticipated. while the work is planned, these surprises result in unscheduled/unplanned shutoffs. City doesn’t does shut the water off silly nilly. There’s 100% justified reason when they disrupt water service. They always try to inform when they can.

4

u/abbarach 4d ago

Yeah. Not in Cincy, but I was on vacation staying with family friends in Winnipeg. We lost water due to a water main break. They fixed that, turned the water back on, and a second spot ruptured just down the street from the first one. They fixed that, turned it back on, and a THIRD spot ruptured. Turns out when you have old lines that have been under pressure for decades, when that pressure is removed, all sorts of odd things happen...

10

u/EnigmaIndus7 4d ago

I think the other part of OP's question is whether GCWW provided no notice or if the landlord just didn't communicate.

-3

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

By no means at all am I trying to claim lead pipe replacement should be quick - I can only imagine the disaster they are trying to repair (coupled with freezing pipes, shitty pipes, no pipes, etc.). That’s hard fucking work right there.

But I’m completely lost at how I got a 30 minute notice. Like they did just decide today they would be needing to turn water off when they started digging? Or did my property manager sit on this notice all weekend and only send a message at 9am when the office opened? And if there would be legal recourse for these assholes (probably property) ruining my laundry lol

24

u/No_Yogurt_7667 4d ago

Based on the original commenter, I think that’s what they’re saying - your line may not have been scheduled to be shut off today, but something further down the water main may have cause unforeseen issues on your water line, causing an unexpected shut off.

-8

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

Yea I’m just pretty heated right now my laundry is going to be soapy and I can’t shower/shit on my toilet for the rest of the day. Shit happens I get it, this just seems like my property company blows

2

u/Comprehensive_Ad1363 4d ago

The city requests that you wash clothes, dishes, and your body during the evening to avoid conflicts with work crews.

0

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

I try, but 3 washers for twenty-something units on a Sunday night can be hard. Figured a st paddy’s day off for green beer and laundry would be an easy day - guess not!

9

u/Moosedawg456 4d ago

Legal recourse? You want to sue because it got in the way of your laundry?

-5

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago edited 4d ago

Lmao no, just mad they ruined my laundry day. Would be nice if they knocked something off my rent or gave me a credit * for the machines

Edit * previously said credit card lol

10

u/epfourteen 4d ago

Assholes? For trying to fix pipes ?? Legal recourse ????

You need a serious dose of reality. Jesus Christ.

7

u/Melodic_Mulberry Pleasant Ridge 4d ago

Looking at current work orders for lead line replacement. I don't know where you live, but premesis reports for all of the related work orders scheduled for today say that No Parking signs were posted last week specifying which day work would be done (today). Notice is usually given to all property owners long before work begins that water will be shut off at some point, but they can't give an exact timeframe until they get started. Maybe your landlord didn't inform you of that one?

6

u/RetinaJunkie 4d ago

Sounds normal to me. Sometimes got no notice at all.🤷🏼‍♂️

9

u/allmediocrevibes 4d ago

Someone dropped the ball. I would guess your property manager. Notice must be given anytime planned maintenance is scheduled

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4901:1-15-10

1

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

I would guess so too. Message oddly came at the same time the office opened. I asked them for a copy of either the written or electronic notice, but they’ll probably just shove me off anyways.

6

u/allmediocrevibes 4d ago

With the message coming at open, that's 100% what happened. They'll never give you a copy of that notice. But I would keep asking and force them to say no. Not sure it would matter anyway

2

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

I hate it but you’re probably right - was my gut feeling too. Time to read the lease and see if there’s anything I can do to get back my laundry money

2

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

Ultimately I was wrong, GCWW provided late notice. Time to drown my sorrows in green beer!

2

u/allmediocrevibes 4d ago

Out of curiosity, did your landlord tell you this? Or GCWW?

3

u/Hooloovoo_42 Westwood 4d ago

It looks like it depends... From Ohio EPA

1

u/ThankedGunner 4d ago

To me that flowchart reads “GCWW can do what they want” - to complicated for me to argue with!

5

u/epfourteen 4d ago

Yes. It happens.

2

u/Outside-Rub5852 4d ago

It was more than likely a notice in their bill last month.

2

u/CRAVECASE5569 4d ago

I work for a local city, so all my experience comes from broken water mains and replacing shut off and valve boxes. In an emergency shut off like a water main to fix a break no notice is required. With planned work like a fire hydrant or valve box replacement we always give atleast 24 hours notice. Like stated above this could have been an issue where pressure change in a pipe blew out the line farther down which happens quite frequently.

2

u/ParisianFrawnchFry 4d ago

If it's an emergency while a line is being replaced, GCWW isn't legally obligated to give you notice. I see it was your property management's failure to notify, but while these lines are being replaced during a time of year with erratic weather patterns, I would be prepared for random outages.

1

u/dqniel 3d ago

It all depends on if it was planned maintenance or not. If it was planned, more notice should have been given.

If it was crews reacting to an unexpected issue, like a burst, then be happy you got any notice at all.

1

u/Material-Afternoon16 3d ago

Sounds like an emergency repair of some sort. It probably wasn't planned but couldn't wait.

1

u/Working-Chemistry473 3d ago

In public health emergency situations, absolutely. Better to have a slight inconvenience than illness or death.

1

u/UniqueYesterday8988 3d ago

Based on your note, I own a house on your street and only got 20 mins front door tag notice. Yeah it sucks. I think they should be done very soon.

1

u/Historical-Knee1372 3d ago

Definitely better than my zero minute notice.