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Brown water, no water, or just a trickle.
That was the challenge faced by West Side businesses on Tuesday due to a massive water main break in Kingston. While some had to close for the day or limit their offerings, while others found a brisk trade selling — what else? — water.
At the Bakehouse in Kingston, owner Frank DeViva started the day normally, and staff came in at 2 a.m. as they always do to prepare bagels and other baked goods for sale.
At that time, the restaurant had water. But it was also around that time that the 1889 cast iron main ruptured.
As the morning preparations went on, Bakehouse would soon be without water.
Thankfully, Monday night preparations included filling a 40-gallon kettle for boiling bagels and filling the coffee maker’s tank, DeViva said.
But the morning brew only went so far.
The normally thick coffee smell in the eatery was missing Tuesday morning — as were as many customers.
“I would estimate we lost a few thousand dollars by not being able to offer coffee,” DeViva said.
DeViva had no problem in remaining open through the day.
“We have bottled water we are selling,” he said.
Staff members wore plastic gloves and changed them frequently to maintain sanitary standards.
However, if the water main break is not fixed by Wednesday morning — The Bakehouse could close Wednesday, he said.
DeViva cited concerns about being unable to wash the Tuesday’s equipment and obtaining the necessary water for boiling bagels and baking.
Staying open
The lack of java inspired Curry Donuts and their neighbor, Dunkin’ Donuts, in the West Side Mall, to make alternate plans to offer patrons caffeinated beverages.
Dunkin’ Donuts had hot coffee and iced coffee trucked in from a Plymouth store, Tracy Johnson, a cashier, said.
“We cannot offer lattes today (Tuesday),” Johnson said.
Lisa Boback, a waitress at Curry Donut, said they were using “jugs of spring water” to brew their java.
The Beer Deli in Forty Fort had water — but it was discolored.
Jodie Rivero, owner of the Beer Deli, said they brought in bottled water to use for cleaning purposes in the kitchen. Their restrooms were open.
As noon approached, Rivero said she received many calls from customers wanting to confirm if the restaurant was open.
“The Canteen (on Rutter Avenue in Forty Fort) is closed,” she said.
In addition to Canteen 900, many other restaurants closed for the day, including Wendy’s and Taco Bell in Edwardsville and Abes Hot Dogs in Kingston.
Subway at the Kingston Village Center was offering take-out only and Burger King in Edwardsville had the lobby closed, but the drive-thru was open.
Other businesses, such as Vive Health and Fitness Center and Pinnacle Rehabilitation Association, both on Third Avenue in Kingston, also were closed.
Trying to stay green
As the temperature rose to 92 degrees, Edward’s Garden Center in Forty Fort had to develop a plan to keep their five acres of plants hydrated with little water.
Nick Kelly, yard manager at Edward’s Garden Center, said the facility had a trickle of water Tuesday.
“It took about 20 minutes to fill a (two gallon) watering can,” Kelly said. “Everything was watered Monday. We are focusing on the plants that are showing signs of wilting.”
If the water main break takes 24 to 48 hours to repair, Kelly said they will have to bring in a water buffalo.
Other facilities such as River Run Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on Wyoming Avenue in Kingston had a 250-gallon water buffalo from Pennsylvania American Water in their parking lot.
Representatives from the 145-bed facility had no comment on accommodations being made for their residents during the water outage.
Grocery stores
Bottles of water were flowing off grocery store shelves Tuesday.
“I had one customer buy 63 gallons of water,” Kelvin Torres, manager of P & R Discount, a discount grocer, in the Gateway Shopping Center in Edwardsville.
Torres placed a call to the Eynon store to acquire additional bottled water supplies.
“Right now (Tuesday morning) our supplies are O.K,” Torres said.
Maines Food & Party Warehouse in Forty Fort also had to have additional bottle water trucked in from Binghamton, Mark Ciocca, store manager said.
Jack McDonnell, store manager of Gerrity’s Supermarkets in Luzerne, compares the demand for bottled water on Tuesday to pre-snow storm sales on bread and milk.
“We ran out (of bottled water) this morning, but Fox Ledge Spring Water sent more,” McDonnell said. “We have water now — but who knows what will happen by suppertime.”