Around-the-clock work shows dedication by water employees
Water is usually something we take for granted. We turn on a faucet and the water flows. We flush a commode and it refills.
But when that water is taken away – even for a couple hours – it’s cause for alarm. Taking a shower is out of the question. So is washing the dishes or doing laundry. Even brushing your teeth takes on a whole new meaning.
That’s why employees with the city water department deserve gushing praise for their around-the-clock work to restore water to McMinnville residents last week. For reasons not known, several city water pipes burst in the span of just a few hours. By the time crews repaired one problem, they had another fiasco on their hands.
Yes, we expect water crews to do their job and ensure we have water each and every day. That means they have to be on their toes 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
While that is all part of the job, when a 12-man crew works virtually 24 hours straight, that’s going above and beyond the call of duty. And that’s when it doesn’t hurt to take a moment and say thanks for a job well done.
Thursday morning was an inconvenience for some city residents with very little water pressure. For others with absolutely no water, it was a nightmare.
But we should also remember it was a very rare occurrence. And when something does happen to temporarily disrupt water service, we can take comfort in knowing there are crews willing to work as long as it takes to get the problem resolved.