Journal & Topics Media Group

Deep Freeze Halts Water Flow At Local Mobile Home Park


Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines.

Residents of Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines have not had clean running water for around a week due to record low temperatures hitting the area.

One resident of the park, located near Touhy Avenue and Elmhurst Road, told the Journal she was not able to shower or do laundry for five days. Without leaving the park to get other water, she would not have been able to brush her teeth or feed her pets.

“The water is all black,” she said. “Nobody should be without water. I can’t wash a dish.”

Water coming out of a faucet at Blackhawk mobile home park. Resident photo.

As of Tuesday morning, Feb. 5, workers from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency were at the park, as well as several crews looking for leaks in the community’s water pipes. Jeff Fannon, CEO of Zeman Homes — the company that owns the park — spoke with IEMA staff privately.

“We have pressing issues right now,” Fannon told the Journal & Topics before going into the meeting.

State Rep. Marty Moylan (D-55th) visited the site Monday afternoon when residents from many of the park’s 600 units came to the front office to share their frustrations over the situation.

“Several constituents have reached out saying they haven’t had water since Tuesday,” Justin Cochran of Moylan’s office said just before the Monday visit. According to Cochran, residents who contacted him said they had not been able to shower for several days. He said Moylan staffers reached out to emergency management, as well as the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the plumbing division of the Illinois Dept. of Public Health.

State Rep. Marty Moylan speaks with residents of Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines Monday (Feb. 4) about their lack of access to clean water after record low temperatures wreaked havoc with the park’s infrastructure. Photo courtesy of Justin Cochran.

A letter from park management sent to residents said the access to clean water problem was caused by a failed well control in addition to “other issues causing sporadic freeze ups, including residents heat tape not working correctly and residents running water constantly causing a strain on the system.”

The letter asked residents to stop running water to avoid low pressure and possible freezing of pipes. Gallons of water were offered to residents at the park’s front office. Zeman also offered Monday to pay for residents to stay in hotels while the issue is sorted out.

However, “there seems to be a great deal of confusion about what management has been offering,” said Cochran. While Zeman told Cochran they would reimburse residents for their hotel rooms, residents said park management told them they would have to pay half of the cost or even reimburse Zeman.

When the Journal & Topics visited the site Tuesday, there were gallons of water in the office.

So far, Cochran said park management has not provided an estimated date when they expect water service in the park to return to normal. At this time, he said Moylan’s staff is working on finding an emergency water supply such as a water truck for the park.

An Illinois Emergency Management Agency vehicle at Blackhawk Estates mobile home park on Tuesday (Feb. 5).

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