ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – On a typical day, the water tower in Orion Township holds 2.5 million gallons of water. That equates to about 44.5 feet of water. At last check, the Orion Township supervisor tells Local 4 that the water is now at about 28.5 feet. It comes after the area lost water supply due to an early morning water break in Auburn Hills.
The scarcity is having a real impact.
Recommended Videos
“Well I brought a bag with my shampoo and conditioner to my cousin’s house, so I can shower there,” third grader, Ariana Lipscomb, who is from the Orion Township area, said.
Ariana and her sister, seventh grader Payton Lipscomb, usually spend Sunday night in a familiar routine – backpacks and bedtime, all before that Monday morning alarm.
But, this Sunday was different.
“Probably around like 12 o’clock, like the morning,” Payton said when asked when she found out they would not have school on Monday.
Lake Orion Community Schools are canceled until at least Tuesday and their area is under a boil water advisory. They’ve been asked to use as little water as possible.
Their dad, Thomas, went shopping.
“I went out and grabbed a good 80 gallons of water, like any normal Sunday,” he said.
Despite it all, they’re still trying to keep spirits up and people are coming together.
“I am told a lot of my neighbors are going to the lake and getting buckets. Whatever you gotta do to make it through this time,” Thomas said.
Local 4 sat down for a one on one with township supervisor Chris Barnett and asked specifically about how they are looking out for the most vulnerable.
“Residents have absolutely stepped up,” Barnett said. “Our businesses have stepped up. They’ve gotten kicked square in the teeth.”
They are relocating people living inside the five senior homes and the 7 group homes in the area.
One of the three spots in Oakland County where the Great Lakes Water Authority has water trucks for drinking water is in Orion Township.
Barnett tells Local 4 those efforts are ramping up tomorrow.
Local 4 also asked him if school could be out for longer.
“It’s a real possibility,” he said. “Part of this whole process is we want to be honest with people.”
Several parents say not having school for an extended amount of time has them concerned about childcare.
But, the third graders tell me they are worried about something else.
“I also have a field trip on Tuesday,” Ariana said.
They were set to go on a trip to Lansing.
“I just am really scared they will have to do it next year,” Jackson Jones, another third grader, said.
The supervisor is asking everyone to hang tight and work together.
“If you are a praying person, pray that what we are doing is going to work,” he said.
Barnett also said he’s grateful the governor opened an emergency operations center for Orion Township and the surrounding areas.