Laurels & lances: Water and bugs

Laurel: To getting back to normal. In November, Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County notified some customers about water restrictions.

The move came because of low levels at Beaver Run Reservoir. Drought conditions across the region meant the reservoir was not being replenished by rain, and the amount of water to serve customers was low. It affected not just Westmoreland County but also portions of Allegheny County (such as Plum and Monroeville) and Armstrong County (such as Parks and Gilpin). What was a voluntary order became mandatory in December.

While mandatory conservation was lifted Jan. 29, voluntary restriction still urged users to exercise caution.

That voluntary order was lifted Tuesday because recent rainfall has lifted the reservoir’s levels by almost 8 feet from its Jan. 9 low point. A fracking water ban remains in place.

Residents should keep in mind a resource such as water should never be wasted. Just because there’s not a restriction doesn’t mean it’s OK to be irresponsible.

Lance: To a buggy situation. Dozens of people in a Latrobe apartment building are being kicked out of their homes after the 333 Main St. structure was condemned.

In September, the city identified more than 100 code violations, including problems with the fire suppression and sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, wiring and windows. While many of those were addressed, one has proved persistent. The building is infested with cockroaches and bedbugs.

It might be as simple as getting an exterminator, but that requires access. Building resident Vanessa Jordan said she knows of at least three other tenants who have opposed that solution. Jordan doesn’t have bedbugs. She has seen rats and mice, though, and told TribLive she is afraid to have food in her apartment — even in the refrigerator.

It’s a problem for many. The city has an obligation to keep buildings and people safe. The owner, Jay Pan LLC, does, too. The residents also have a responsibility for keeping their units clean and providing necessary access for maintenance such as extermination.

Regardless of who is at fault, it means a number of Latrobe residents have only days to find a place to live at a time when housing inventory is low and rent prices are high.