Angry residents took to social media to claim OWASA should have seen it coming, but the shutdown of a water plant because of a fluoride-heavy supply and a water pipe break created a perfect storm that disrupted water service for tens of thousands of Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents this weekend. This resulted in a borderline post-apocalyptic scene in the area, as hundreds converged on grocery stores and gas stations to stock up on bottled water, and businesses, schools, and restaurantseven UNCshut down and tankers brought millions of gallons of water into the areas hit hardest by the shortage. It’s over now, but for forty-eight hours, it seemed like no end was in sight.

This article appeared in print with the headline “Don’t Drink the Water.”