Gold Hill water issues "nightmare" for some residents

Gold Hill, Ore. — The boil water advisory in Gold Hill is lifted, and the city says the water is safe to drink, but some residents aren’t buying it. A picture taken this morning by Stephanie Hicks, shows a glass of water she says she filled up before heading to work, which shows grey cloudy water. Other residents tell us the water is now “cloudier” and “milkier” than it has been so they’re drinking bottled water instead.

Meanwhile, the Gold Hill City Council is meeting Friday to consider raising water and sewage rates. That’s not sitting well with residents who say they already pay too much for water.

Last month, Clifford Mead’s bill was $140. Mead says it’s gotten so expensive, they’re considering moving.

“Just to hook up to water and sewer in Gold Hill it’s 80 dollars and that’s an every month charge,” Clifford Mead says, “there’s people on fixed incomes that just can’t afford this, you know and it’s just gonna keep going up.”

Mead says not only is it expensive but the recent shut offs and boil water advisories have left them without water for hours -and even days- at a time.

The council is holding a special meeting Friday at 10 am to discuss raising rates. Mead hopes people will show up and voice their concerns.

“One person making a stink over it’s not going to change anything,” Mead says, “we gotta get everybody in this town behind it to go you know enough is enough, we’re tired, fix it.”