City of Punta Gorda steps in to help senior community without water

A 55-plus community now in unincorporated Charlotte County has water after not having it for days, thanks to the city of Punta Gorda, who stepped in to help.

The Shell Creek RV resort is not technically in the city of Punta Gorda or serviced by city utilities, but when the city learned about the struggles residents were enduring, it went out to lend a hand.

The utilities department temporarily set up a water distribution point across the street, so neighbors can fill up their water jugs for basic needs.

• Related link: Residents go 3 days without clean water at a Punta Gorda community

Sun Outdoors is the company that owns Shell Creek. Heather Taylor, Regional Vice President of Operations and Sales for the company, said the water was turned back on at 8 p.m. Monday night and was caused by a technical issue in the system, which is being resolved.

“We’re following all proper protocols and have issued a boil water notice until the samples clear,” Taylor said.

But residents still aren’t happy.

“It’s just, it’s the same old, same old, everything is good, everything is fixed, and nothing is good, and nothing is fixed,” Craig Johnson, a Shell Creek resident. “You know, like Kelly had said, it’s a Band Aid, but kind of without a Band Aid.”

To them, this is a recurring issue.

“It’s a cycle that keeps happening and happening and happening to the point where we’re always on a water boil,” said Kelly Bradley, a Shell Creek resident. “Currently, we cannot drink the water they’re giving us currently. We can’t use, wash dishes with it or brush your teeth.”