Rapid alerts to help rural water customers

FREMONT — Sandusky County residents contracting with Northern Ohio Rural Water will now have access to a notification system for alerts about about their water.

Tom Reese, general manager of NORW, said the system, called Rapid Response, is free to customers and is customized to send specific emergency alerts and important reminders that pertain to area customers. Reese said current customers are asked to fill out paperwork sent by mail or email NORW at info@norw.org.

He said a customer will have specific text messages if they need to boil water in Fremont while other customers in their service group could receive texts about other emergencies in their area.

“This is a great program that will timely and valid communications exactly to the customers that need specific communication,” Reese said.

The alert can be sent to 120,000 customers per hour, Reese said.

The Norwalk-based company provides portable water service to Ballville, Green Creek, Riley, Sandusky, Townsend and York Townships.

While there have not been pipe breaks in Sandusky Township, Trustee Paul Lotycz said an alert system would come in handy in getting information to customers when needed.

“I think it would be great if there is a problem,” Lotycz said. “We’ve heard no issues good or bad from rural customers in the township.”

Customers can contact NORW with question about the alert system by calling 419-668-7213.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: CraigShoupNH