Crews work in the cold to keep water flowing

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Cold temperatures aren’t just causing closures and delays. Freezing pipes are creating boil water advisories and water outages across New Hanover County and someone has to work in that cold to fix it. The water lining the gutter on Hixon Place means seven homes are without water because of freezing temperatures. But someone has to fix it.

That someone is someone like Cape Fear Public Utility Authority crew foreman Jeremiah Peoples. Whether it’s 100 degrees, snowing or just below freezing, they work in the water to turn the water back on.

“We have to keep on rolling,” Peoples said.

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority spokesperson Mike McGill says they know it’s an inconvenience for everyone.

“We understand that people get upset that they’re without water when they really need it,” McGill said. “Some people are at home with their kids some people are trying to get to work and we understand that.”

Peoples says he understands because his family has been there, and that’s why he’s been doing this job for 26 years.

“That’s who you work for is your family,” Peoples said.

Even through the coldest endeavors.

“My hands. My hands. Cause you actually have to touch the pipe,” Peoples said.

Peoples says his coworkers get him through it.

“We’re basically like a family,” he said. “We joke and laugh and try to have fun and just get the work done.”

For a simple job – done means 4 to 5 hours. But for some jobs, done means working through the night. Peoples says getting it done is his job.

“It pays my bills, and it’s something that I like to do,” Peoples said.