The Power of Help...The Restoration of Water: Ms. Fitzpatrick’s Story
Home is meant to be a place of comfort and security—but for Ms. Fitzpatrick, it became a source of stress and hardship after experiencing her second major water leak in just three years. What started as a manageable concern quickly escalated into a financial crisis when she received a water bill from the City of Atlanta totaling over $2,000. With the issue unresolved, the bill soared to more than $9,000.
Unfortunately, from November through March, Ms Fitzpatrick lived without running water; boiling or purchasing water daily just to meet her basic needs. During this time, she reached out to the Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation (NPCDC) hoping for the resources needed to make repairs.
Her perseverance paid off. NPCDC was able to move forward with the much-needed plumbing repairs funded through the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management's Care and Conserve Plumbing Repair Program. The work completed was extensive and essential to restoring her quality of life, safety and function to her home. Repairs included:
Replacement of a 40-gallon water heater
Installation of a new main water service line underground from the street using CPVC or PEX piping
Excavation and backfilling, followed by raking, seeding, and applying straw to restore the disturbed areas
Removal of accessible cast iron drain lines and replacement with durable, modern PVC drain lines
These critical repairs not only restored water to Ms. Fitzpatrick’s home—they restored peace of mind and a sense of normalcy.
“I’m grateful,” Ms. Fitzpatrick shared. “Grateful for the Nehemiah Project, grateful to the City of Atlanta, and grateful to have a home I can call my own. But situations like these—unexpected and overwhelming—require help. ”
At NPCDC, we believe no one should have to choose between housing security and basic necessities like clean water. Ms. Fitzpatrick’s story is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. With compassion, commitment, and community support, we’re building stronger, safer homes—one family at a time.